US07888582B2
A home theater system includes construction, presentation, and commerce in, songs. Presentation includes at least one of: metadata about songs or sounds, a function capable of transitioning from one song to a next song, and user preferences; and can determine in what manner to transition from one song to a next song. Construction of songs includes either factors above, or at least one of: a function or a user extension capable of selecting a next song, and an element capable of determining whether the song is perceptually random. A user interface is capable of searching playlists and selecting them for presentation, representing each playlist with a substantially unique pictorial representation, distinguishing in presentation between those playlists licensed to the user and those that are not, and capable of substantially immediate purchase of playlist licenses either individually or in bulk and either automatically or with minimal intervention.
US07888581B2
Disclosed is an audio device that adjusts the cadence of played songs. All songs in a playlist may be adjusted to match the cadence of a particular song. First, the desired cadence of a reference song is determined by low pass filtering a digital representation of the reference song and determining the period (T) of the back beat of the reference song. The cadence of subsequent songs is then determined by low pass filtering digital representations of the subsequent songs and determining the period (T) of the back beat of the subsequent songs. An adjustment of the period (T) of the subsequent songs is then determined such that the adjustment of the period (T) of the subsequent songs results in the subsequent songs having the desired cadence (i.e., the cadence of the reference song). The period (T) of the back beat of the subsequent songs are then adjusted.
US07888573B1
A multi-purpose holding device and method for use with guitar shaped instruments, wherein the device comprises: a pivot axle member having attachment means for attaching the member to a guitar, a U-shaped mounting bracket member having first attachment means for attaching the member to a first substrate, the U-shaped mounting bracket member having second attachment means for attaching the member to a second substrate, the U-shaped mounting bracket member having third attachment means for attaching the member to a third substrate, the U-shaped mounting bracket member having fourth attachment means for attaching the member to a fourth substrate, the pivot axle member has a plate that attaches to the back of the guitar, the guitar with the pivot axle member has a slot for slidable connecting to the U-shaped mounting bracket members of the substrate's one through four, thereby allow a user to quickly and easily detach and reattach the holding substrate for the guitar, wherein the substrates one through four are designed to support the entire weight of the guitar, and wherein said user elects which substrate to attach and remove from said guitar and it what order and when.
US07888571B2
The tremolo mechanism includes a novel cam actuated lock having a plurality of parallel locking channels disposed on an engagement surface of a movable locking arm and further having a locking ridge disposed on an engagement surface of a locking block so as to be in aligned opposition with the locking channels. Each pairing of locking channels is separated by a chromatic spacing distance corresponding to a chromatic half step change in the pitch of the plurality of tensioned strings. The lock of the further including a cam actuated torsion bar to positioning the locking arm according to a cam follower's position on a cam profile. The torsion bar provides a flexible means of applying a motive force for moving the locking arm such that, with the locking ridge and a selected locking channel misaligned and the cam follower disposed upon the locked seat, the torsion bar elastically deforms as the locking ridge is received by a land disposed between the locking channels without damaging the lock. Further, any additional transverse movement of the locking arm relative to the locking block causes the locking ridge to slide across the land and seat into an adjacent locking channel.
US07888563B1
A novel maize variety designated 33W82 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing maize variety 33W82 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into 33W82 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety 33W82, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety 33W82. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety 33W82 and to the maize varieties derived by the use of those methods.
US07888562B2
The present invention relates to a plastid transformation system capable of preventing second recombination events of heterologous genes inserted into plastid genomes. More specifically, this invention relates to a plastid transformation vector carrying a promoter and a terminator derived from organisms other than tobacco. The inventive recombinant expression vector for plastid transformation is capable of mass-producing exogenous proteins on a level par with conventional vectors carrying promoter/terminator couples of tobacco origin. At the same time, it is capable of preventing second recombination events within plastids. Thus, the vector of this invention is greatly useful in producing transgenic plants since it can effect a secure introduction of heterologous genes and support normal transformation and heterologous gene expression.
US07888560B1
This invention relates to an isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding a transcription factor. The invention also relates to the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a portion of the transcription factor, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of accumulated oil in a transformed host cell.
US07888553B2
Methods for transforming forage legumes or woody plants with a DNA construct comprising at least one open reading frame encoding for a caffeoyl CoA 3-O-methyltransferase enzyme and a caffeic acid 3-O-methyltransferase enzyme or fragment thereof in either a sense or antisense orientation under a lignification-associated tissue specific promoter have been found, resulting in the down-regulation of the corresponding homologous gene either through antisense inhibition or sense suppression, as well as reduced lignin content and modified lignin composition in the transgenic plants. The expression of the caffeoyl CoA 3-O-methyltransferase transgene produces an increased syringyl lignin to guaiacyl lignin ratio in the transformed plant, and greatly improved forage digestibility.
US07888552B2
The invention relates to methods for Rhizobia-mediated genetic transformation of plant cells, including soybean, canola, corn, and cotton cells. These include both VirD2-dependent and VirD2-independent methods. Bacterial species utilized include strains of Rhizobium sp., Sinorhizobium sp., and Mesorhizobium sp. Vectors for use in such transformation are also disclosed.
US07888551B2
Nucleotide sequences mediating male fertility in plants are described, with DNA molecule and amino acid sequences set forth. Promoter sequences and their essential regions are also identified. The nucleotide sequences are useful in mediating male fertility in plants. In one such method, the homozygous recessive condition of male sterility causing alleles is maintained after crossing with a second plant, where the second plant contains a restoring transgene construct having a nucleotide sequence which reverses the homozygous condition. The restoring sequence is linked with a hemizygous sequence encoding a product inhibiting formation or function of male gametes. The maintainer plant produces only viable male gametes which do not contain the restoring transgene construct. Increase of the maintainer plant is also provided by self-fertilization, and selection for seed or plants which contain the construct.
US07888544B2
Hydrocarbon conversion processes using the UZM-27 family of crystalline aluminosilicate compositions
This invention relates to hydrocarbon conversion processes using a new family of crystalline aluminosilicate compositions designated the UZM-27 family. These include the UZM-27 and UZM-27HS which have unique structures. UZM-27 is a microporous composition which has a three-dimensional structure and is obtained by calcining the as synthesized form designated UZM-27P. UZM-27HS is a high silica version of UZM-27 and includes an essentially pure silica version of UZM-27.
US07888528B2
A photosensitive monolayer is self-assembled on an oxide surface. The chemical compound of the photosensitive monolayer has three components. A first end group provides covalent bonds with the oxide surface for self assembly on the oxide surface. A photosensitive group that dissociates upon exposure to ultraviolet radiation is linked to the first end group. A second end group linked to the photosensitive group provides hydrophobicity. Upon exposure to the ultraviolet radiation, the dissociated photosensitive group is cleaved and forms a hydrophilic derivative in the exposed region, rendering the exposed region hydrophilic. Carbon nanotubes or nanocrystals applied in an aqueous dispersion are selectively attracted to the hydrophilic exposed region to from electrostatic bonding with the hydrophilic surface of the cleaved photosensitive group.
US07888527B2
The present invention provides compounds that have antagonist activity at the S1P1 and/or S1P3 receptors. These compounds have enhanced selectivity and potency at the S1P1 and/or S1P3 receptors.
US07888525B2
A method for preparing organic carbonates comprising subjecting an alcohol compound to oxidative carbonylation in the presence of carbon monoxide, oxygen and a liquid-phase catalytic system, to form a organic carbonates, wherein the liquid-phase catalytic system includes at least one catalyst, at least one additive and at least one ionic liquid composed of a cation, which has a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic structure, and an anion. Through using the additive and the ionic liquid, the activity and the performance of the catalyst are enhanced, and increased reaction rate and yield can be obtained.
US07888523B2
This invention relates to a method for the preparation of a platinum(II) complex containing a neutral bidentate ligand, such as oxaliplatin. The method includes the step of reacting a halogenoplatinum complex containing a neutral bidentate ligand with an oxalate salt in a solvent, wherein more than 1 g/L of the oxalate salt is soluble in the solvent. The invention also relates to new platinum(II) complexes.
US07888516B2
A TGF-β gene expression inhibitor containing a pyrrole-immidazole polyamide comprising an N-methylpyrrole unit (hereinafter also referred to as Py), an N-methylimidazole unit (hereinafter also referred to as Im) and a γ-aminobutyric acid unit which can be folded into an U-shaped conformation at the above-described γ-aminobutyric acid unit site in a minor groove of a double-stranded region (hereinafter referred to as the target region) containing a part or the whole of the following base sequence (SEQ ID NO: 2) corresponding to −450 to −310 of human transforming growth factor β1 (hereinafter also referred to as h TGF-β1) promoter and a strand complementary thereto and in which a Py/Im pair, an Im/Py pair and a PY/Py pair correspond respectively to a C-G base pair, a G-C base pair and an A-T base pair and a T-A base pair.
US07888515B2
The present invention relates to an improved process for preparing N,N′-carbonyldiazoles by reacting azoles with phosgene.
US07888509B2
One aspect of the invention relates to 1,8-diarylnaphthalene compounds. In certain embodiments, a compound of the invention is an N-oxide of a 1,8-diarylnaphthalene. In certain embodiments, the aryl group is an optionally substituted acridyl group. In certain embodiments, a compound of the invention is a single steroisomer. In certain embodiments, a compound of the invention is a single enantiomer. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of detecting the presence of an analyte in a sample by monitoring the fluorescence of a compound of the invention in a sample. In certain embodiments, the analyte is a metal ion. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of determining the enantiomeric purity of an analyte by monitoring the fluorescence of a compound of the invention in the presence of the analyte. In certain embodiments, the analyte is a compound that is capable of hydrogen bonding.
US07888503B2
The present invention relates to dihydrobenzodiazepine derivatives, compositions and medicaments containing the same, as well as processes for the preparation and use of such compounds, compositions and medicaments. Such dihydrobenzodiazepine derivatives are useful in the treatment of diseases associated with inappropriate ROCK kinase.
US07888502B2
A process which includes treating, mixing, or contacting a Type I titanyl phthalocyanine with a weak acid with a pKa of at least equal to or greater than about 0; dissolving the acid treated Type I titanyl phthalocyanine in a solution of a trihaloacetic acid and an alkylene halide; adding the formed mixture to a solution of an alcohol and an alkylene halide thereby precipitating a Type Y titanyl phthalocyanine; and treating the Type Y titanyl phthalocyanine with monohalobenzene thereby resulting in a high sensitivity titanyl phthalocyanine.
US07888501B2
Processes for making photosensitive organic pigments for use in imaging members, specifically processes for making a photosensitive phthalocyanine pigments having a specific crystal form, comprising dissolving the pigment in a mixture of a haloacetic acid and alkylene halide to form a solution, precipitating the pigment by adding the solution to a non-solvent system, the solution comprised of one or more organic solvents and a small amount of water, wherein the amount of water controls the crystal form of the pigment, followed by a treatment with a halobenzene to obtain a highly photosensitive second crystal form of the pigment.
US07888494B2
An apparatus is provided for analysing a polynucleotide. The apparatus includes: a support having an impermeable surface; porous material attached to the impermeable surface; and an array of oligonucleotides with predetermined sequences attached to the porous material. The array includes at least two defined cells, the sequence of the oligonucleotides of a first cell being different from the sequence of the oligonucleotides of a second cell, and the oligonucleotides being shorter than the polynucleotide.
US07888491B2
Diagnostic tools for for serodiagnosing ehrlichiosis in mammals, particularly in members of the Canidae family and in humans are provided. The diagnostic tools are a group of outer membrane proteins of E. chaffeensis and variants thereof, referred to hereinafter as the “OMP proteins”, a group of outer membrane proteins of E. canis and variants thereof referred to hereinafter as the “P30F proteins”, and antibodies to the OMP proteins and the P30F proteins. The OMP proteins of E. chaffeensis encompass OMP-1, OMP-1A, OMP1-B, OMP-1C, OMP1-D, OMP1-E, OMP1-F, OMP1-H, OMP-1R, OMP-1S, OMP-1T, OMP-1U, OMP-1V, OMP-1W, OMP-1X, OMP-1Y and OMP-1Z. The P30F proteins of E. canis encompass P30, P30a, P30-1, P30-2, P30-3, P304, P30-5, P30-6, P30-7, P30-8, P30-9, P30-10, P30-11, and P30-12. Isolated polynucleotides that encode the E. chaffeensis OMP proteins and isolated polynucleotides that encode the E. canis P30F protein are also provided. The present invention also relates to kits containing reagents for diagnosing human ehrlichiosis and canine ehrlichiosis, and to immunogenic compositions containing one or more OMP proteins or P30F proteins.
US07888490B2
Anthrax toxin, comprising of protective antigen (PA), lethal factor (LF) and edema factor (EF) is a major virulent factor of B. anthracis. Protective antigen, PA is the main component of all the vaccines against anthrax. The protective efficacy of PA is greatly increased if small quantities of LF of EF are incorporated into the vaccines. An ideal vaccine against anthrax should contain PA, LF and EF together, but this combination would be toxic. Therefore, the biologically inactive mutant preparations of PA, LF and EF may be used together for better immunoprotection. The present invention describes the method for generation of recombinant vaccine against anthrax, comprising of non-toxic, mutant anthrax toxin proteins. The procedure involves site-directed mutagenesis of the native genes of the toxin proteins, the expression and purification of the mutant proteins and finally characterization of these proteins.
US07888484B2
Humanized monoclonal antibodies which bind to IFNAR-1, and related antibody-based compositions and molecules, are disclosed. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the humanized antibodies and therapeutic and diagnostic methods for using the humanized antibodies.
US07888471B2
Four novel Bacillus thuringiensis strains, which are deposited at the BCCM-LMG under accession nos. LMG P-12592, LMG P-12593, LMG P-12594, and LMG P-13493, produce new crystal proteins during sporulation that are toxic to Lepidoptera, more particularly against Noctuidae such as Spodoptera spp. and Agrotis ipsilon, against Pyralidae such as Ostrinta nubilalis, and against Yponomeutidae such as Plutella xylostella, and that are encoded by a novel gene. The crystal proteins contain protoxins, which can yield a toxin as trypsin-digestion product. A plant, the genome of which is transformed with a DNA sequence that comes from either one of the strains and that encodes its respective toxin, is resistant to Lepidoptera. Each strain, itself, or its crystals, crystal proteins, protoxin or toxin can be used as the active ingredient in an insecticidal composition for combatting Lepidoptera.
US07888468B2
Cytotoxic factors having use in modulating cell death, and their use in methods of treating necrosis or apoptosis-related conditions are disclosed. The invention also relates to methods for identifying active agents useful in treating conditions related to cell death or uncontrolled growth. The present inventors have found that different microorganisms produce different cytotoxic factor(s) having anticancer activity. The substantially pure cytotoxic factors can be used in a method of treating an infectious disease or a cancer.
US07888463B2
A protein, designated ERCoA3 is provided. The ERCoA3 protein interacts with the estrogen receptor and the progesterone receptor and causes activation of these receptors is provided. Also provided are polynucleotides which encode ERCoA3 or block translation of the mRNA which encodes ERCoA3. Antibiodies that bind to one or more epitopes in the human ERCoA3 protein are provided. The present invention also relates to methods of inhibiting or reducing tamoxifen or estrogen induced proliferation of cancer cells, particularly breast cancer cells, endometrial cancer cells and uterine cancer cells. The method comprises reducing the activity or levels of ERCoA3 in such.
US07888461B2
Fragments of snapin important for interaction with cypin and thus regulating microtubule assembly are provided. Also provided are methods of use of said fragments and kits to facilitate said methods.
US07888460B2
A food comprising a mutant gliadin protein that comprises at least one mutation in the epitope 62PQPQLPY68 (SEQ ID NO:6), wherein the mutation decreases the ability of the epitope to induce a T cell response, or a fragment of the mutant gliadin protein wherein the fragment is at least 15 amino acids long and comprises the mutated 62PQPQLPY68 (SEQ ID NO:6) is provided herein.
US07888457B2
The present invention relates to processes for removing phosphorus from a fiber or yarn.
US07888445B2
The present disclosure is directed to fibrous products, such as fiberglass, and methods for producing the same. For example, the disclosure describes cured and uncured binders useful in the fabrication of products from loosely assembled fibers. The disclosure also describes methods of fabricating products from loosely assembled fibers utilizing the aforementioned binders.
US07888437B2
The process for producing an olefin polymer according to the present invention is characterized in that it comprises polymerizing an olefin having 3 or more carbon atoms in the presence of a catalyst for olefin polymerization containing a solid titanium catalyst component (I) which contains titanium, magnesium, halogen, and a cyclic ester compound (a) specified by the following formula (1): wherein n is an integer of 5 to 10, R2 and R3 are each independently COOR1 or a hydrogen atom, and at least one of R2 and R3 is COOR1; and R1's are each independently a monovalent hydrocarbon group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and a single bond (excluding Ca—Ca bonds, and a Ca—Cb bond in the case where R3 is a hydrogen atom) in the cyclic backbone may be replaced with a double bond, and an organometallic compound catalyst component (II), at an internal pressure of the polymerization vessel which is 0.25 times or more as high as the saturation vapor pressure of the olefin at a polymerization temperature. According to this process, an olefin polymer having a broad molecular weight distribution can be prepared.
US07888429B2
A process for the preparation of epoxy-modified vinyl chloride-vinyl ester copolymers in the form of the solid resins involves aqueous, free radical polymerization of a mixture comprising a) from 50 to 90% by weight of vinyl chloride, b) from 5 to 25% by weight of epoxide-containing vinyl monomers and c) from 5 to 25% by weight of one or more vinyl esters of straight-chain or branched alkylcarboxylic acids having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, d) from 0 to 40% by weight of further comonomers copolymerizable with a), b) and c), the data in % by weight summing to 100% by weight, and subsequent drying of the aqueous dispersions obtained thereby, polymerization being effected by means of suspension polymerization in the presence of aldehyde regulators.
US07888411B2
A thermally conductive adhesive composition includes a powder of a high melting point metal or metal alloy, a powder of a low melting point metal or metal alloy, and a polymerizable fluxing polymer matrix composition having a polyepoxide polymer resin and a low-melting solid or liquid acid-anhydride and a polymer diluent or diluents with carbon carbon double bonds and/or functional hydroxyl groups. The ratio by weight of the low melting point powder to high melting point powder ranges from about 0.50 to about 0.80, and may range from about 0.64 to about 0.75, and may be 0.665. Heretofore unpredicted substantially higher thermal conductivity improvements in performance have been found using these ratios of low melting point powder to high melting point powder.
US07888405B2
Sulfonated aliphatic-aromatic polyester compositions having improved thermal properties and biodegradability, and articles such as films, coatings and laminates, produced from the sulfonated aliphatic-aromatic polyester compositions, are provided.
US07888403B2
Disclosed are soft, high refractive index, acrylic device materials. The materials comprise di-block or tri-block macromers containing hydrophilic side-chains. The materials have improved glistening resistance.
US07888400B2
The invention features dental compositions comprising at least one hybrid monomer that comprises a cyclic allylic sulfide moiety attached to a (meth)acryloyl moiety. These two functional moieties are typically joined either directly to each via a chemical bond or through some chemical structure or spacer molecule. The composition may optionally contain additional polymerizable compounds, such as ethylenically unsaturated compounds, that are typically used in dental compositions.
US07888392B2
An ointment containing a compound represented by formula (I): [wherein R1 represents any group of a group represented by the formula: —(CH2)4—S—CH2—CO2H, a group represented by the formula: —(CH2)4—S—CH2—CO2CH3, a group represented by the formula: —(CH2)4—C≡C—CO2H, a group represented by the formula: —CH2—S—(CH2)2—S—CH2—CO2H, and a group represented by the formula: —CH2—S—(CH2)4—CO2H], and an oleaginous base, is an ointment containing a compound which is effective for atopic symptoms, and is an ointment having low skin irritancy and excellent storage stability, thus, can be used as a pharmaceutical product effective for the pruritus caused by atopy or the like.
US07888383B2
There are provided according to the invention compounds of formula (I) in free or salt form, wherein R1, R2, R4, R5, R6, D, X, W, m and n are as described in the specification, process for preparing them, and their use as pharmaceuticals.
US07888382B2
For controlling the condition of type 2 diabetes, a pharmaceutical including a combination of mitiglinide, a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof or a hydrate thereof and an α-glucosidase inhibitor such as voglibose or acarbose, and a therapeutic method using the pharmaceutical are provided. The pharmaceutical according to the present invention has an extremely strong effect of decreasing a morning fasting blood glucose level, a postprandial blood glucose level and HbA1C of a patient with type 2 diabetes, and can improve glucose spike, insulin resistance and lipid metabolism.
US07888381B2
Non-steroidal compounds are provided which are useful in treating diseases associated with modulation of the glucocorticoid receptor, AP-1, and/or NF-κB activity including obesity, diabetes, inflammatory and immune diseases, and have the structure of formula (I) or an enantiomer, a diastereomer, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, or hydrate thereof, where J is selected from NR1 or C(R4)(R4a); K is selected from NR2 or C(R5)(R5a); L is selected from NR3 or C(R6)(R6a); and A, X, Y, R1, R2, R3, R4, R4a, R5, R5a, R6, R6a, R8, R10, R11, and n are defined herein. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treating obesity, diabetes and inflammatory or immune associated diseases comprising said compounds.
US07888374B2
The present invention relates to compounds that are inhibitors of c-jun N-terminal kinase 1, 2, or 3 (JNK1, JNK2, or JNK3), compositions containing the compounds and the use of the compounds in the prevention or treatment of disorders regulated by the activation of JNK1, JNK2 and JNK3.
US07888369B2
This application provides for oxazolisoquinoline derivatives of the formula or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of said compound wherein: B is —CH═CH—; M is —C(R1)(R2)—; and the remaining substituents are as defined in the specification as well as pharmaceutical compositions containing them and a method of treating diseases associated with thrombosis, atherosclerosis, restenosis, hypertension, angina pectoris, arrhythmia, heart failure, and cancer by administering said compounds. This application also provides for combination therapy with the compounds of Ib or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof with other cardiovascular agents.
US07888368B2
A subclass of camptothecin derivatives is disclosed to be useful for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of drug-resistant tumors and/or for the administration to patients who show polymorphisms in the gene coding for DNA topoisomerase I.
US07888366B2
2,4-Diaminoquinazolines of formulae I-IV and VI are useful for treating spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
US07888358B2
This invention relates to novel 8-aza-bicyclo[3.2.1]octane derivatives useful as monoamine neurotransmitter re-uptake inhibitors.In other aspects the invention relates to the use of these compounds in a method for therapy and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of the invention.
US07888354B2
The present invention provides a prophylactic or therapeutic agent for dementia, Alzheimer's disease, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, schizophrenia, eating disorders, obesity, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, sleep disorders, narcolepsy, sleep apnea syndrome, circadian rhythm disorder, depression, allergic rhinitis or other diseases.A phenylpyrazole derivative represented by formula (1) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof: {wherein R1 and R2, which may be the same or different, each represent C1-C6 alkyl or C3-C8 cycloalkyl, or R1 and R2 are attached to each other together with their adjacent nitrogen atom to form a 4- to 7-membered saturated heterocyclic ring (wherein said saturated heterocyclic ring may be substituted with halogen or C1-C6 alkyl), n represents an integer of 0 to 2, T represents a hydrogen atom, halogen or C1-C6 alkyl, and R represents formula (I): or the like}.
US07888336B2
The invention provides well-defined aryl and/or heteroaryl substituted indoles that are useful as spingosine-1-phosphate agonists or antagonists. As such, the compounds described herein are useful in treating a wide variety of disorders associated with modulation of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors.
US07888332B2
The invention provides compositions, pharmaceutical preparations and methods for inhibition of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator protein (CFTR) that are useful for the study and treatment of CFTR-mediated diseases and conditions. The compositions and pharmaceutical preparations of the invention may comprise one or more hydrazide-containing compounds, and may additionally comprise one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, excipients and/or adjuvants. The methods of the invention comprise, in certain embodiments, administering to a patient suffering from a CFTR-mediated disease or condition, an efficacious amount of a hydrazide-containing compound. In other embodiments the invention provides methods of inhibiting CFTR that comprise contacting cells in a subject with an effective amount of a hydrazide-containing compound. In addition, the invention features a non-human animal model of CFTR-mediated disease which model is produced by administration of a hydrazide-containing compound to a non-human animal in an amount sufficient to inhibit CFTR.
US07888326B2
The present invention provides methods for regulating the growth and/or survival of tumor cells and stem cells by modulating the expression or function of ATF5. The present invention also provides methods for promoting or suppressing differentiation of stem/progenitor cells, for producing differentiated cells and for isolating/purifying differentiated cells, including neural cells. Also provided are differentiated cells, cell populations and transgenic animals comprising same and uses of same. The present invention further provides methods for treating nervous tissue degeneration and for identifying an agent for use in treating nervous tissue degeneration. Methods for promoting apoptosis in neoplastic cells and for treating or preventing tumors, and identifying agents for use in treating or preventing tumors are also provided by the present invention. The present invention further provides methods for identifying agents that inhibit ATF5, agents identified by these methods. Also provided are methods for diagnosing tumors, for assessing the efficacy of therapy to treat tumors and for assessing the prognosis of a subject who has a neural tumor. Finally, the present invention provides a kits for use in detecting and treating tumors.
US07888320B2
A composition is adapted for intra-tumoral administration of a subject suffering from cancer, whereby administration of the composition to the subject induces IMC differentiation by neutralizing a factor implicated in a DC differentiation defect.
US07888316B2
Disclosed herein are polypeptide multilayer films comprising a hybrid polypeptide comprising a first polypeptide segment and a second segment, the two segments being covalently joined by one or more non-peptidic linkages. The first segment comprises a polypeptide having a magnitude of net charge per residue of greater than or equal to 0.4, and a length of greater than or equal to about 12 amino acid residues. The second segment comprises a polypeptide or another polyelectrolyte.
US07888308B2
Cationic surfactant systems, using microfibrous cellulose to suspend particulates therein, are described. Methods of making these systems are also described.
US07888296B2
This invention is directed to a composition comprising expandable polymeric microparticles comprising hydrophobic polymers having a backbone with labile pendant groups, the microparticles having an unexpanded volume average particle size diameter of from about 0.05 to about 5,000 microns. Labile pendant groups on the backbone are subject to hydrolysis under a change in environmental conditions that results in expansion of the microparticle. The invention is further directed to the use of the composition for modifying the permeability of subterranean formations and increasing the mobilization and/or recovery rate of hydrocarbon fluids present in the formations.
US07888293B2
Orthogonal ribosome orthogonal mRNA pairs are provided, as are methods for their selection involving a novel positive-negative selection approach, and methods for their use. Also provided are cellular logic circuits involving orthogonal ribosomes.
US07888289B2
A compound of general formula (I): A process for preparing this compound.A fungicide composition comprising a compound of general formula (I).A method for treating plants by applying a compound of general formula (I) or a composition comprising it.
US07888286B2
A method of selectively controlling morning glory spp., by treating a lower portion of a hill of morning glory spp. with one compound or a combination of two or more compounds selected from glufosinate, L-glufosinate, bialaphos, paraquat, diquat and agriculturally acceptable salts of the compounds.
US07888284B2
An absorbent includes a ferromagnetic nucleus with a one-layer or two-layer shell or devoid thereof and the nucleus is embodied in the form of a plate with a planar size that ranges from 500-5000 μm and the thickness is equal to 0.1-1000 μm. The method for producing the inventive magnetically-operated absorbent includes evaporating and/or melting a magnetic material powder in a low-temperature plasma, quenching and condensing the thus obtained vaporized and/or melt-particle product in a gas flux, and transferring the product precipitated in the form of crystals or micro slugs of corresponding metals, correspondingly to a stabilizer-containing dispersion medium and holding in the medium until a gas release is over. Then the crystals or micro slugs are processed by flattening, for example pressing so that the plates of a specified thickness are obtained.
US07888282B2
A catalyst for manufacturing synthesis gas has a carrier and a Group VIII metal carried by the carrier. The carrier contains a first ingredient, a second ingredient and a third ingredient. The first ingredient is an oxide of at least an alkaline earth metal selected from the group of magnesium, calcium, strontium and barium. The second ingredient is an oxide of at least an element selected from the group of scandium, yttrium and lanthanoids. The third ingredient is zirconia or a substance containing zirconia as principal ingredient and has a solid electrolytic property. The carrier may be formed by forming an overcoat film on a substrate by coating. Then, the overcoat film contains the above three ingredients. A catalyst according to the invention can remarkably reduce the dimensions of the reaction facility and improve the energy efficiency of the facility.
US07888279B2
In the conventional alumina sintered bodies, a sintered body having high flexural strength, high toughness and high translucency in combination is not obtained, and a translucent alumina sintered body suitable for a dental material requiring both strength and sensuousness was not obtained. A translucent alumina sintered body having fracture toughness of 4.5 MPa·m0.5 or more, flexural strength of 350 MPa or more, and all light transmittance (sample thickness: 1 mm) to a visible light having a wavelength of 600 nm, of 60% or more is provided. The sintered body wherein sintered crystal grains are slender plate-like and/or columnar shape having an average aspect ratio of 1.5 or more and an average long axis length of 15 μm or less is preferred.
US07888266B2
A complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) optical sensor structure includes a pixel containing a charge collection well of a same semiconductor material as a semiconductor layer in a semiconductor substrate and at least another pixel containing another charge collection well of a different semiconductor material than the material of the semiconductor layer. The charge collections wells have different band gaps, and consequently, generate charge carriers in response to light having different wavelengths. The CMOS sensor structure thus includes at least two pixels responding to light of different wavelengths, enabling wavelength-sensitive, or color-sensitive, capture of an optical data.
US07888265B2
This method for assaying copper in silicon wafers includes the steps of: forming a polysilicon layer on the surface of a p-type silicon wafer having the same characteristics as the silicon wafers being assayed; heat treating the p-type silicon wafer after it has been polished; dissolving the polysilicon layer on the heat-treated p-type silicon wafer with a mixed acid composed of at least hydrofluoric acid and nitric acid; and quantitatively determining the copper components within the mixed acid following dissolution of the polysilicon layer.
US07888260B2
A semiconductor device with its package size close to its chip size has a stress absorbing layer, allows a patterned flexible substrate to be omitted, and allows a plurality of components to be fabricated simultaneously. There is: a step of forming electrodes (12) on a wafer (10); a step of providing a resin later (14) as a stress relieving layer on the wafer (10), avoiding the electrodes (12); a step of forming a chromium layer (16) as wiring from electrodes (12) over the resin layer (14); and step of forming solder balls as external electrodes on the chromium layer (16) over the resin layer (14); and a step of cutting the wafer (10) into individual semiconductor chips; in the steps of forming the chromium layer (16) and solder balls, metal thin film fabrication technology is used during the wafer process.
US07888253B2
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device according to an embodiment includes: forming a precursor film containing therein a predetermined metallic element on a surface of a recess portion formed in an insulating film on a semiconductor substrate; forming a wiring formation film on the precursor film; performing a heat treatment in an oxidation ambient atmosphere to cause the precursor film and the insulating film to react with each other, thereby forming a self-formed barrier film containing a compound, containing therein the predetermined metallic element and a constituent element of the insulating film, as a basic constituent in a boundary surface between the precursor film and the insulating film, and moving the predetermined metallic element unreacted into the wiring formation film through diffusion to cause the predetermined metallic element unreacted to react with oxygen contained in the oxidation ambient atmosphere on a surface of the wiring formation film, thereby precipitating an unreacted metallic oxide film including the predetermined metallic element; forming the same material as that of the wiring formation film on the wiring formation film after the unreacted metallic oxide film is removed; and flattening the wiring formation film until a portion of the insulating film located outside the recess portion is exposed.
US07888247B2
A method of forming a polycrystalline semiconductor film, which includes irradiating an amorphous semiconductor film formed on an insulating substrate with light to convert the amorphous semiconductor into a polycrystalline semiconductor with laterally grown crystal grains, thus forming a polycrystalline semiconductor film, wherein crystal growth in the semiconductor is controlled such that first crystal grains laterally grow in the first direction along a X-axis from the first group of initial nuclei, the second crystal grains laterally grow in the second direction opposite to the first direction along the X-axis from the second group of initial nuclei arranged apart from the first group of initial nuclei along the X-axis, and the first crystal grains collide against the second crystal grains at different points in time along a Y-axis.
US07888243B2
An active region in a semiconductor device is made up of a parallel p-n layer including a first p-semiconductor layer and a first n-semiconductor with the widths and total amounts of impurities being equal to each other to provide a structure in which charges are balanced. A section parallel to stripes in the parallel p-n layer in an inactive region is made up of a second parallel p-n layer including a second p-semiconductor layer, with its width larger than that of the first p-semiconductor layer, and a second n-semiconductor layer with its width smaller than that of the first n-semiconductor layer. The total amount of impurities in the second p-semiconductor layer is made larger than that in the second n-semiconductor layer to provide a structure in which charges are made unbalanced.
US07888239B2
In a semiconductor device manufacturing method in which a wafer formed with devices in a plurality of areas sectioned by a plurality of streets formed in a lattice-like pattern on the front surface is divided into the individual devices along the streets, when the wafer is divided into the individual devices by exposing cut grooves formed along the streets by a dicing before grinding process, a rigid plate is applied to the front surface of the wafer and an adhesive film is attached to the rear surface of the wafer. Thereafter, a separation groove forming step is performed in which a laser beam is directed to the adhesive film along the cut grooves from the dicing tape side applied with the wafer attached with the adhesive film to form separation grooves in the adhesive film along the cut grooves.
US07888238B2
A wafer process material is prepared which has a plurality of semiconductor formation regions of different planar sizes, each including a low dielectric constant film/wiring line stack structure component. A laser beam is applied onto a dicing street of the necessary semiconductor formation region and onto its straight extension in order to remove partial areas of the low dielectric constant film/wiring line stack structure components of the necessary semiconductor formation region and the unnecessary semiconductor formation region so that first groove and the second groove are formed. A protective film is formed in the second groove formed in the unnecessary semiconductor formation region and on the low dielectric constant film/wiring line stack structure component. An upper wiring line and a sealing film are formed on the protective film, and a semiconductor wafer is cut along the dicing street.
US07888233B1
Methods of this invention relate to filling gaps on substrates with a solid dielectric material by forming a flowable film in the gap. The flowable film provides consistent, void-free gap fill. The film is then converted to a solid dielectric material. In this manner gaps on the substrate are filled with a solid dielectric material. According to various embodiments, the methods involve reacting a dielectric precursor with an oxidant to form the dielectric material. In certain embodiments, the dielectric precursor condenses and subsequently reacts with the oxidant to form dielectric material. In certain embodiments, vapor phase reactants react to form a condensed flowable film.
US07888232B2
A protective structure is produced by providing a semiconductor substrate with a doping of a first conductivity type. A semiconductor layer with a doping of a second conductivity type is applied at a surface of the semiconductor substrate. A buried layer with doping of a second conductivity type is formed in a first region of the semiconductor layer, wherein the buried layer is produced at the junction between the semiconductor layer and semiconductor substrate. A first dopant zone with a doping of a first conductivity type is formed in the first region of the semiconductor layer above the buried layer. A second dopant zone with a doping of a second conductivity type is formed in a second region of the semiconductor layer. An electrical insulation is formed between the first region and the second region of the semiconductor layer. A common connection device is formed for the first dopant zone and the second dopant zone.
US07888230B2
A method of making an integrated circuit including structuring a material. The method includes providing an arrangement of three-dimensional bodies. The material is arranged between the bodies and structured directed radiation. The projection pattern of the three-dimensional bodies is transferred into the material. The structured material connects at least two of the three-dimensional bodies.
US07888225B2
A method of manufacturing an electronic device including a PNP bipolar transistor comprises forming a collector in a substrate, depositing a base layer and an emitter layer on the substrate, and growing a nitride interface layer on the base layer as a base current modulation means, such that the nitride interface layer is arranged between the base layer and the emitter layer.
US07888221B2
The present invention relates to a Tunnel Field Effect Transistor (TFET), which utilizes angle implantation and amorphization to form asymmetric source and drain regions. The TFET further includes a silicon germanium alloy epitaxial source region with a conductivity opposite that of the drain.
US07888212B2
In a well region, an irregular structure is formed in a gate width direction, and a gate electrode is formed in concave portions and on top surfaces of convex portions via an insulating film. Upper and lower source regions are formed on one side of the gate electrode in a gate length direction, and upper and lower drain regions are formed on the other side thereof. By thus forming the lower source and drain regions in the source and drain regions, current concentration occurring in an upper portion of a channel region, which is generated as the gate length becomes shorter, may be suppressed and a current may be allowed to flow uniformly in the entire channel region, and hence an effective gate width is made wider owing to the irregular structure formed in the well region. Accordingly, an on-resistance of a semiconductor device is reduced to enhance driving performance.
US07888190B2
The invention discloses a switching element of a pixel electrode for a display device and methods for fabricating the same. A gate is formed on a substrate. A first copper silicide layer is formed on the gate. An insulating layer is formed on the first copper silicide layer. A semiconductor layer is formed on the insulating layer. A source and a drain are formed on the semiconductor layer. Moreover, a second copper silicide layer is sandwiched between the semiconductor layer and the source/drain.
US07888187B2
An element-mounting substrate includes a ceramic substrate, an electrode layer formed on the substrate and a ceramic coating layer which is formed on a part of the electrode layer and has a thickness of 5 to 50 μm. A process for producing the element-mounting substrate includes the steps of forming an electrode precursor layer in the shape of a pattern of an electrode layer on a ceramic plate or a green sheet of a large diameter, forming a ceramic coating precursor layer on a part of the electrode precursor layer and then firing the resulting precursor. In this process, it is preferable to form the ceramic coating layer so as to cover the electrode layer on a predetermined cutting line of the firing product. According to the element-mounting substrate in which a part of the electrode layer is covered with a ceramic, a failure in mounting an element attributable to the thickness of the ceramic coating layer can be prevented when the element is mounted. In addition, peeling or cracking of the electrode layer caused by impact during dicing can be prevented.
US07888184B2
A method of manufacture of an integrated circuit packaging system includes: providing a shaped platform with a conductive post; mounting the shaped platform with the conductive post over a temporary carrier; mounting an integrated circuit device over the temporary carrier; encapsulating the conductive post and the integrated circuit device; removing a portion of the shaped platform isolating the conductive post; and removing the temporary carrier.
US07888178B2
An LED includes a circuit board (1), a light emitter (3) mounted on the circuit board (1), and a reflector (4) mounted on the circuit board (1), the light emitter (3) including an LED element mounted on the circuit board (1) and a light-transmitting resin (2) to seal the LED element. The reflector (4) is configured to surround the light emitter (3) and includes an opening (5) which passes through an upper surface and a lower surface is provided at a central position to allow insertion of the light emitter (3), and an inclined inner surface in the opening (6) configured to be upwardly broadened. A reflection film (7) is provided on the inclined inner surface (6) of the opening in the reflector. A outer peripheral edge is a non-reflection film constituted area (8) and, simultaneously, a terminal position identification mark (10) adjacent to the non-reflection film constituted area (8) are provided. The reflector (4) is cut along a dicing line on the non-reflection film constituted area (8) where the reflection film is not provided, thus preventing the reflection film (7) from being peeled off.
US07888176B2
In one or more embodiments, a method of producing a stacked integrated circuit assembly includes providing a substrate having a top surface with at least one substrate connection pad. A first flip chip integrated circuit (FFIC) is disposed above the substrate, and a second flip chip integrated circuit (SFIC) is disposed above the FFIC. The FFIC may be disposed between the substrate and the SFIC. The method includes making at least one solder connection between the substrate connection pad and the FFIC and at least one solder connection between the FFIC and the SFIC.
US07888162B2
This application discloses a method of manufacturing a photoelectronic device comprising steps of providing a semiconductor stack layer, forming at least one metal adhesive on the semiconductor stack layer by a printing technology, forming an electrode by heating the metal adhesive to remove the solvent in the metal adhesive, wherein an ohmic contact is formed between the electrode and the semiconductor stack layer.
US07888157B2
In an image sensor chip package method, a transparent substrate having an upper surface, a lower surface, and through holes is provided. The through holes pass through the transparent substrate. Conductive posts are formed in the through holes. A sealing ring is formed on the lower surface of the transparent substrate. A chip having an active surface, an image sensitive area, and die pads is provided. The image sensitive area and the die pads are located on the active surface. Conductive bumps are formed and respectively disposed on the die pads for respectively connecting the conductive posts. At the time the active surface of the chip is turned to face toward the lower surface of the transparent substrate. The chip is assembled to the transparent substrate and electrically connected with the conductive posts via the die pads. The sealing ring surrounds the image sensitive area and the die pads.
US07888154B2
To provide an elemental technique for improving the emission intensity of deep ultraviolet light from a light emitting layer made of an AlGaInN-based material, in particular, an AlGaN-based material. First, an AlN layer is grown on a sapphire surface. The AlN layer is grown under a NH3-rich condition. The TMAl pulsed supply sequence includes growing an AlGaN layer for 10 seconds, interrupting the growth for 5 seconds to remove NH3, and then introducing TMAl at a flow rate of 1 sccm for 5 seconds. After that, the growth is interrupted again for 5 seconds. Defining this sequence as one growth cycle, five growth cycles are carried out. By such growth, an AlGaN layer having a polarity of richness in Al can be obtained. The above sequence is described only for illustrative purposes, and various variations are possible. In general, the Al polarity can be achieved by a process of repeating both growth interruption and supply of an Al source.
US07888152B2
A method of forming laterally distributed light emitting diodes (LEDs) is disclosed. A first buffer layer with a first type of conductivity is formed on a semiconductor substrate, and a dielectric layer is formed on the first buffer layer. The dielectric layer is patterned to form a first patterned space therein, followed by forming a first active layer in the first patterned space. The dielectric layer is then patterned to form a second patterned space therein, followed by forming a second active layer in the second patterned space. Second buffer layers with a second type of conductivity are then formed on the first active layer and the second active layer. Finally, electrodes are formed on the second buffer layers and on the first buffer layer.
US07888151B2
An array substrate for an LCD device includes a first TFT including a first semiconductor layer, a first gate electrode, wherein the first gate electrode is directly over the first semiconductor layer; a first protrusion extending from the first gate electrode along an edge of the first semiconductor layer; a second TFT including a second semiconductor layer, a second gate electrode, wherein the second gate electrode is directly over the second semiconductor layer; a second protrusion extending from the second gate electrode along an edge of the second semiconductor layer; a third TFT connected to crossed data and gate lines including a third semiconductor layer, a third gate electrode, wherein the third gate electrode is directly over the third semiconductor layer; a third protrusion extending from the third gate electrode along an edge of the third semiconductor layer; and a pixel electrode.
US07888148B2
A thin film panel includes a substrate, a gate line formed on the substrate, a gate insulating layer formed on the gate line, a semiconductor layer formed on the gate insulating layer, a data line, including a source electrode, and a drain electrode formed on the gate insulating layer or the semiconductor layer, and a pixel electrode connected to the drain electrode, wherein at least one of the gate line and the data line and drain electrode includes a first conductive layer made of a molybdenum Mo-niobium Nb alloy and a second conductive layer made of a copper Cu-containing metal.
US07888146B2
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for assembling a semiconductor laser device, including: preparing a laser chip including: a substrate; stripe waveguides that are formed on the substrate and that each includes a gain producing area and a window area; electrodes formed on the stripe waveguides; an insulating layer formed on the electrodes; a metal layer formed on the insulating layer; projections arranged at an interval in the window areas; and joining structures connected to the electrodes and formed in the window areas; preparing a submount including: a first solder; second solders arranged at the interval; and submount electrodes connected to the second solders; contacting the laser chip to the submount by fitting the projections with respect to the second solders; and heating the submount and the laser chip.
US07888144B2
A light-emitting device is capable of emitting a light having a wavelength ranging from 300 to 550 nm, and includes: a substrate; a p-type semiconductor layer disposed on the substrate; an active layer disposed on the p-type semiconductor layer; a n-type semiconductor layer disposed on the active layer and having a waveguide-disposing surface; and a waveguide structure formed on the waveguide-disposing surface of the n-type semiconductor layer and having a plurality of spaced apart nanorods extending from the waveguide-disposing surface.
US07888141B2
In a chip pick-up process after dicing in an assembly process during manufacture of a semiconductor integrated circuit device it is an important subject to diminish a pick-up defect caused by the reduction in thickness of each chip which is proceeding in quick tempo. Particularly, bending of the chip peripheral portion caused by a peeling operation is very likely to induce cracking and chipping of the chip. In the present invention, to solve these problems, in case of peeling a chip from a dicing tape (adhesive tape) or the like while vacuum-chucking the chip by a chucking collet, the flow rate of a vacuum chucking system in the chucking collet is monitored to check a bent state of the chip before complete separation of the first chip from the adhesive tape.
US07888138B2
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing a ferroelectric thin film device, and, more particularly, to a method of manufacturing a ferroelectric thin film device having high crystallinity, good surface roughness and high deposition efficiency through on-axis type sputtering, and to a ferroelectric thin film device manufactured using the method. The method of manufacturing a ferroelectric thin film device includes: depositing an SrRuO3 (SRO) thin film on an SrTiO3 (STO) substrate; and depositing a BiFeO3 (BFO) thin film on the deposited SRO thin film, wherein each of the thin films is deposited in a state in which the STO substrate is isolated from the ground. The method of manufacturing a ferroelectric thin film device is advantageous in that a ferroelectric thin film has a uniform surface, thus greatly decreasing the amount of leakage current and increasing remnant polarization.
US07888130B2
A test cassette for the detection of analytes from fluid samples is provided which has a housing (1, 2) with an inlet opening and with a reservoir for receiving a fluid sample containing the analyte. A separate carrier platform (3) can be horizontally displaced in the housing (1, 2), for fixing one or more flexible, strip-like, capillary-active detection elements. The carrier platform (3) in the housing (1, 2) is designed such that the capillary-active detection elements are deflected from the longitudinal direction of the strips and dip into the fluid sample in the reservoir during a lateral motion of the carrier platform (3).
US07888129B2
A method of obtaining a surface-enhanced optical property of an analyte using a flexible structured substrate having a metal layer conformably disposed on nanostructure, a flexible structured substrate, and a method of making the same.
US07888125B2
The present invention provides methods of calibrating a fluidic device useful for detecting an analyte of interest in a bodily fluid. The invention also provides methods for assessing the reliability of an assay for an analyte in a bodily fluid with the use of a fluidic device. Another aspect of the invention is a method for performing a trend analysis on the concentration of an analyte in a subject using a fluidic device.
US07888117B2
Homo sapiens OCT-2 variant peptide chains are disclosed. Polynucleotides encoding these peptide chains, cells comprising these polynucleotides, and methods of using the forgoing are also disclosed.
US07888090B2
The invention relates to AGT mutants showing, when compared to the wild type human AGT, two or more advantageous properties selected from (a) reduced DNA interaction; (b) localisation of the expressed protein in eukaryotic cells that is no longer restricted to the nucleus; (c) improved expression yield as soluble protein and improved stability in various hosts; (d) improved stability under oxidising conditions; (e) improved stability within cells after reaction with a substrate; (f) improved stability outside cells before and after reaction with a substrate; (g) improved in vitro solubility; (h) improved reactivity against O6-alkylguanine substrates; (1) reduced reactivity against DNA-based substrates; and (j) reduced reactivity against N9-substituted O6-alkylguanine substrates. Such AGT mutants with the mentioned improved properties are mutants wherein between 1 and 25 amino acids of the wild type human AGT are substituted by other amino acids, and optionally 1 to 5 amino acids out of the continuous chain at one, two or three positions are deleted or added and/or 1 to 4 amino acids at the N-terminus or 1 to 40 amino acids at the C-terminus are deleted. The invention further relates to a method for detecting and/or manipulating a protein of interest wherein the protein of interest is incorporated into a fusion protein with the AGT mutants of the invention. Another object of the invention are AGT fusion proteins comprising such AGT mutants and the protein of interest.
US07888086B2
A mutant hydrolase optionally fused to a protein of interest is provided. The mutant hydrolase is capable of forming a bond with a substrate for the corresponding nonmutant (wild-type) hydrolase which is more stable than the bond formed between the wild-type hydrolase and the substrate and has at least two amino acid substitutions relative to the wild-type hydrolase. Substrates for hydrolases comprising one or more functional groups are also provided, as well as methods of using the mutant hydrolase and the substrates of the invention. Also provided is a fusion protein capable of forming a stable bond with a substrate and cells which express the fusion protein.
US07888078B2
The present invention provides: a process for producing an amino acid which comprises adding crystals of the amino acid having an average particle size of 1 to 120 μm to a medium so that the concentration of the crystals of the amino acid becomes 0.5 g/l or more, culturing a microorganism having the ability to produce the amino acid in the medium, allowing crystals of the amino acid to form and accumulate in the medium, and recovering the crystals of the amino acid from the culture; and a process for producing an amino acid which comprises adding crystals of the amino acid to a medium so that the total surface area of the crystals of the amino acid in the medium becomes 0.02 m2/l, culturing a microorganism having the ability to produce the amino acid in the medium, allowing crystals of the amino acid to form and accumulate in the medium, and recovering the crystals of the amino acid from the culture.
US07888074B2
The aim of the invention is to provide a device for duplicating and characterizing nucleic acids almost simultaneously and with a high sample throughput rate. The device consists of a chamber body with a recess whose edge sealingly holds an optically transparent chip. Said chip holds nucleic acids in individual spots on a detection surface. The chamber body is placed on an optically transparent chamber support with a bearing surface, in such a way that a capillary gap, which can be filled with a liquid sample, is formed between the detection surface of the chip facing towards the chamber support and said chamber support. The chamber body is provided with an inlet and an outlet, which are spatially separate from each other, and has a space, which laterally encompasses the chip and which has a gas reservoir. The chamber support is provided with heating elements.
US07888072B2
The invention provides recombinant B. thetaiotaomicron GAG lyase polypeptides. The invention also provides nucleic acid molecules encoding such polypeptides, recombinant expression vectors containing B. thetaiotaomicron GAG lyase nucleic acid molecules, and host cells into which the expression vectors have been introduced. Characterization, diagnostic and therapeutic methods utilizing compositions of the invention are also provided.
US07888067B2
The present invention aims at converting factor IX into a molecule with enhanced activity which provides an alternative for replacement therapy and gene therapy for hemophilia B. Using recombinant techniques, factor IX with replacement at positions 86, 277, and 338 exhibits better clotting activity than recombinant wild type factor IX.
US07888066B2
The present invention relates to a method for diagnosing Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease in a subject by analyzing the expression of Semaphorin 3 and downstream effectors. It also provides a method for identifying a substance useful in the prevention or treatment of Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, and a method of using such substance in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.
US07888065B2
The present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules encoding enzymes which are involved in the starch synthesis in plants. These enzymes are starch synthases from wheat.The invention further relates to vectors and host cells containing said nucleic acid molecules, in particular transformed plant cells and plants regenerated from these cells, which exhibit an increased or a reduced activity of the described starch synthases.
US07888064B2
The invention provides flagellin-based fusion proteins (FBFP) are useful for a variety of purposes, in bioremediation to remove metal ions from a liquid, to express an enzyme or an immunogen, nucleic acids encoding the FBFP, vectors containing the nucleic acids, and host cells harboring the vectors. Furthermore, the invention provides methods for obtaining over-expression and surface display of heterologous polypeptides in Gram-positive bacterial cells in Bacillus halodurans in particular. In addition, the invention features gene-disrupted bacterial are useful for expressing the recombinant FBFP on their surfaces. Also included in the invention genetic constructs are useful for making FBFP and methods of using the FBFP.
US07888062B1
Processes to produce microorganisms that can be incorporated into a microbial-based product that results in high viable cell yields and shelf-stable products are disclosed. These microbial-based products are useful for inhibiting pathogenic growth and as a food additive. A preferred microorganism is the lactic acid producing bacteria, Lactobacillus amylovorus M35. In one embodiment, the process comprises inoculating a lactobacillus fermentation medium with M35 cells, harvesting the M35 cells at mid to late log phase, concentrating the M35 cells, and preserving the M35 cells at a concentration of at least 5×109 cfu/ml.
US07888059B2
A composition of matter comprising active Na,K-ATPase is disclosed, each Na,K-ATPase comprising an α and β subunit, the Na,K-ATPase being at least 85% purified. Methods of purifying same and uses thereof are also disclosed.
US07888052B2
The invention provides Cripto blocking antibodies, or biologically functional fragments thereof, and uses thereof. Antibodies which bind Cripto and modulate Cripto signaling are provided. Antibodies which bind Cripto and block the interaction between Cripto and ALK4 are provided. Antibodies which bind Cripto and modulate tumor growth are also provided. Antibodies which bind Cripto, modulate signaling, and modulate tumor growth are also provided. Antibodies which bind Cripto, block the interaction between Cripto and ALK4 and modulate tumor growth are provided. The invention also provides methods of using these antibodies in therapeutic, diagnostic, and research applications.
US07888043B2
Compositions, methods and devices for the detection of anti-lipoidal antibodies and the diagnosis of disease, for example, syphilis, are described. In particular, oxidized cardiolipins, which may be conjugated with a variety of attachment molecules, such as BSA, KLH, biotin, synthetic protein MAPS, IgY, streptavidin, or avidin, are described. Such oxidized cardiolipin, alone or complexed with one or more attachment molecules, are useful to detect anti-lipoidal antibodies in subjects, for example, when used in lateral flow devices. Lateral flow devices are described that permit the detection of anti-lipoidal antibodies and that permit the co-detection of nontreponemal and treponemal antibodies in biological samples.
US07888042B2
Methods are provided for identifying and selecting candidate molecules that activate glucose transport through binding of the insulin receptor at a site other than the insulin binding site. The methods include analyzing the properties of one or more candidate molecules in terms of the ability to bind the insulin receptor and activate glucose transport. Optionally the methods include, competitive assays in the presence of the glucose receptor, a candidate molecule, and one or more of insulin, alpha PGG and beta PGG.
US07888039B2
Provided is a novel method for detecting Transmissible Spongiform encephalopathies (TSE). The method comprises: selecting a body fluid sample from a subject to determine whether the subject has transmissible spongiform encephalopathy; and detecting antibodies that immune react with Spiroplasma proteins in the sample. The method detects antibodies in the individual sera samples that react with recombinant Spiroplasma-specific Hsp60 by standard ELISA methodology. This method provides for rapid detection of TSE by determination of presence of antibodies in test samples showing associated Spiroplasma infection that has become consistent with presence of TSE. The method provides a mechanism to detect presence of TSE without invasive techniques currently needed to make diagnosis using brain tissues for prion detection. This method provides means of detection of TSE in the live patient without need for using necropsy tissues. This method provides the first method discovered that detects antibodies against TSE infection-specific proteins in serum or cerebrospinal fluid or other body fluid samples.
US07888038B2
The present invention provide polynucleotide sequences encoding a Bak Binding Protein (BBP) and fragments thereof that bind to Bak. The invention also provide recombinant host cells containing polynucleotides encoding BBP. The invention further provide antibodies that specifically bind to BBP. The invention further provide methods for detecting agents such as drugs that alter the binding of a BBP with a Bak protein. The invention further provide methods for detecting the presence of Bak polynucleotides and the encoding proteins in a biological sample, and further provide methods for modulating the levels of BBP in a cell. This invention additionally encompasses novel peptides, designated the “BBP Binding Domains” and the respective nucleotides, designated “bbpbd-1” and “bbpbd-2” which are involved in the interaction between Bak and BBP.
US07888036B2
Systems, methods, compositions and apparatus relating to genome selection are disclosed.
US07888034B2
An embodiment of a method for detecting low frequency occurrence of one or more HIV sequence variants associated with drug resistance is described that comprises the steps of: generating cDNA species from each RNA molecule in an HIV sample population; amplifying at least one first amplicon from the cDNA species, wherein each first amplicon comprises a plurality of amplified copies and is amplified with a pair of nucleic acid primers that define a locus of the first amplicon; clonally amplifying the amplified copies of the first amplicons to produce a plurality of second amplicons wherein a plurality of the second amplicons comprise an immobilized population of substantially identical copies from one of the amplified copies of first amplicons; determining a nucleic acid sequence composition of the substantially identical copies from at least 100 of the immobilized populations in parallel on a single substrate; and detecting one or more sequence variants that occur at a frequency of 5% or less in the nucleic acid sequence composition of the at least 100 immobilized populations; and correlating the detected sequence variants with variation associated with HIV tropism.
US07888024B2
The present invention provides a novel polymorphism detecting method suitable for the detection and identification of copy number variation.Provided is a method of determining the genotype of a subject in a genomic region comprising an SNP site, comprising a step for performing typing of the SNP site by the invader assay with a DNA-containing sample comprising the genomic region from the subject as the template, wherein fluorescence is measured on a real time basis. The copy number ratio of both alleles is determined using the fluorescence intensity ratio of each allele at a time before saturation of fluorescence intensity. Preferably, the present method further comprises a step for amplifying the genomic region comprising an SNP site prior to the invader step. In this step of amplification, a plurality of regions comprising a plurality of SNP sites can be simultaneously amplified. Furthermore, the present method enables the determination of the copy number of each allele when combined with quantitative PCR.
US07888023B2
The invention provides DNA compositions that relate to transgenic insect resistant maize plants. Also provided are assays for detecting the presence of the maize DAS-59122-7 event based on the DNA sequence of the recombinant construct inserted into the maize genome and the DNA sequences flanking the insertion site. Kits and conditions useful in conducting the assays are provided.
US07888016B2
The present invention relates to methods and compositions for predicting drug responses. In particular, the present invention provides methods and compositions for determining individualized Warfarin dosages based on genotype of DNA polymorphisms and haplotypes derived from them in the VKORC1 gene.
US07888011B2
The invention provides methods and related products for extracting nucleic acids such as DNA from prokaryotic spores. The invention also encompasses methods for identifying the source of such spores via analysis of the isolated nucleic acids.
US07888009B2
The present invention describes a method for identifying one or more of a plurality of sequences differing by one or more single base changes, insertions, deletions, or translocations in a plurality of target nucleotide sequences. The method includes a ligation phase, a capture phase, and a detection phase. The ligation phase utilizes a ligation detection reaction between one oligonucleotide probe, which has a target sequence-specific portion and an addressable array-specific portion, and a second oligonucleotide probe, having a target sequence-specific portion and a detectable label. After the ligation phase, the capture phase is carried out by hybridizing the ligated oligonucleotide probes to a solid support with an array of immobilized capture oligonucleotides at least some of which are complementary to the addressable array-specific portion. Following completion of the capture phase, a detection phase is carried out to detect the labels of ligated oligonucleotide probes hybridized to the solid support.
US07888007B2
The present inventors have identified cancer associated mutations in plexinB1, which is a transmembrane receptor that mediates semaphorin signaling. The frequency of plexinB1 mutations, in particular in prostate and breast cancer, indicates that plexinB1 may be useful in the screening and diagnosis of cancer and as a drug target in the development of anti-cancer therapeutics.
US07887997B2
A manufacturing method for conducting films on two opposite surfaces of a transparent substrate of a touch control circuit, includes: contacting a first photoresist layer having photosensitive and discolored emulsion on a first conducting coat formed on a first surface of the transparent substrate, and contacting a second photoresist layer on a second conducting coat formed on a second surface of the transparent substrate; exposing the first photoresist layer to form a circuit pattern with distinguishable color on exposed regions of the first photoresist layer; employing the circuit pattern as an aligning benchmark for the second photoresist layer, and exposing the second photoresist layer accordingly; developing and etching those arranged on the two surfaces of the transparent substrate at the same time to form a first conducting film of a touch control circuit from the first conducting coat and form a second conducting film of the touch control circuit from the second conducting coat. Thus the manufacturing steps of the touch control circuit are decreased.
US07887995B2
An electroforming mold has a first negative type photosensitive material formed on an electroconductive substrate, and a first through-hole extends through the firs photosensitive material to expose the electroconductive substrate. An electroconductive layer formed on an upper face of the first photosensitive material surrounds the first through-hole. A second negative type photosensitive material formed on an upper face of the electroconductive layer has a second through-hole that overlies and exposes both the first through-hole and a peripheral part of the electroconductive layer that surrounds the first through-hole. Because the electroconductive substrate and the electroconductive layer are separated from one another, the first and second through-holes precipitate an electroformed object independently during use of the electroforming mold resulting in a uniform electroformed object.
US07887990B2
Disclosed is a fluorine-containing compound represented by formula (1), wherein R1 represents a polymerizable double-bond containing group, R2 represents an acid-labile protecting group, R3 represents a fluorine atom or fluorine-containing alkyl group, and W represents a bivalent linking group. This compound can provide a fluorine-containing polymer compound that has a weight-average molecular weight of 1,000-1,000,000 and contains a repeating unit represented by formula (2), wherein R2, R3 and W are defined as above, each of R4, R5 and R6 independently represents a hydrogen atom, fluorine atom or monovalent organic group, at least two of R4, R5 and R6 may be combined to form a ring. This polymer compound can provide a resist composition capable of forming a pattern that is transparent to exposure light and superior in rectangularity.
US07887980B2
A sub-resolutional grayscale reticle and associated fabrication method have been presented. The method provides a transparent substrate, and forms a plurality of coincident partial-light transmissive layers overlying the transparent substrate. A pattern is formed, sub-resolutional at a first wavelength, in at least one of the transmissive layers. If there are n transmissive layers, the reticle transmits at least (n+1) intensities of light. In one aspect, each of the plurality of transmissive layers has the same extinction coefficient and the same thickness. In other aspects, the transmissive layers may have different thickness. Then, even if the extinction coefficients are the same, the attenuation of light through each layer is different. The transmission characteristics of the reticle can be further varied if the transmissive layers have different extinction coefficients. Likewise, the transmission characteristics through the sub-resolutional patterns can be varied.
US07887977B2
A mask formed with a mask pattern is prepared, the mask pattern having a shape that a base pattern is divided into at least two partial patterns disposed at a space narrower than a resolution limit. A first relation is acquired between a width of the space separating the partial patterns and a size of a pattern on a substrate formed by transferring the mask pattern. The width of the space separating the partial patterns is determined in accordance with the size of a pattern to be formed on the substrate and the first relation. A mask pattern is formed having at least two separated partial patterns on a mask in accordance with the determined width of the space.
US07887976B2
Disclosed is a paste for screen printing which is used in the fabrication of an anode functional layer, an electrolyte layer, or a cathode layer of an anode-supported solid oxide fuel cell. The paste contains a raw material powder, ethyl cellulose alpha terpineol, and an alcoholic solvent in which a thermosetting binder is soluble. Also provided is a method of fabricating an anode-supported solid oxide fuel cell using the paste. Thus, a reliable high-performance, large area solid oxide fuel cell that can be economically and efficiently fabricated is provided.
US07887964B2
The present invention provides a fuel cell system that has a fuel cell portion including one or more unit cells, a fuel tank for storing fuel used in the unit cells, and a control portion for controlling the fuel cell portion. The number of unit cells is optimized so that a total amount of energy, which is outputted from the fuel cell system as a function of the number of unit cells or of an electrode area, shows a maximum value or a nearly maximum value. Thus, the amount of energy may be maximized or made to be equal to or more than a predetermined value. Accordingly, target devices to be supplied with power from the fuel cell system may be used for a longer time.
US07887963B2
A method of operating an electrochemical conversion assembly is provided where a shut down sequence is introduced where a substantially dry gas is driven through the cathode flow field. The dry gas is supplied for an amount of time sufficient to reduce the water content of the proton exchange membrane to a level sufficient to suppress corrosion and catalyst dissolution in the membrane electrode assembly. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US07887959B2
A fuel cell module according to the invention, of concentric type, can consist of parts fabricated independently of each other whilst ensuring efficient electric connection between these parts and the limiting of stresses inside the stack.It chiefly consists of a central stack (20) of several elementary cells of a fuel cell, separated from each other by interconnects (10). These are formed of a central metal partition carrying flexible, notched collars. The assembly is completed by a base (50) and flange (40) ensuring distribution of the combustible gases.Application to fuel cells of SOFC type.
US07887956B2
An air cathode having a multilayer structure is composed of at least one substrate, two diffusion layers and three activation layers. The two diffusion layers are laminated over an upper side of the substrate and a lower side of the substrate. The three activation layers are respectively laminated over one of the two diffusion layers in order. Different loadings or different kinds of catalysts are added into a slurry to form the activation layers, and the activation layers and the diffusion layers are made through simultaneous sintering, thereby shortening the processing time. When the air cathode is used as the cathode of the Zinc-Air battery, the electrolyte inside the Zinc-Air battery will not be influenced by the outside air, and the problem of maintaining the water content of the zinc anode of the Zinc-Air battery can be efficiently overcome.
US07887945B2
A conductive plate connects the electrode terminals between batteries of a battery pack and prevents a change in thickness of the battery pack due to swelling of a battery during charging by forming an expansion unit in a conductive plate electrically connecting batteries of the battery pack in which at least two batteries are stacked.
US07887931B2
An OLED device comprises an anode and a cathode and located there-between a light emitting layer containing a light emitting dopant and a host comprising a monoanthracene derivative.
US07887929B2
A method of manufacturing a gas turbine engine component includes the steps of forming a ceramic workpiece having oriented ceramic reinforcement, and severing the ceramic workpiece to produce a ceramic member having a desired orientation of the ceramic reinforcement. The ceramic member is then attached to a turbine engine component as a thermal barrier layer for the turbine engine component.
US07887919B2
An amorphous carbon (DLC) film having excellent adhesion at high temperature is provided. An amorphous-carbon-based hard multilayer film, which is formed on a surface of a substrate, includes a base layer formed at a substrate side, a surface layer formed at a surface side, and a compositional gradient layer formed between the base layer and the surface layer, wherein the base layer includes a nitride or a carbo-nitride of an element M expressed by the following formula (1), the surface layer includes an amorphous carbon film containing C of 50 atomic percent or more, and the compositional gradient layer is a layer in which the element M and nitrogen are decreased, and carbon is increased from the base layer to the amorphous carbon film: M1-x-yCxNy (1), (wherein M is at least one selected from a group 4A element in the periodic table, a group 5A element, a group 6A element, Al, and Si, and x and y denote atomic ratios in the formula, and x is 0.5 or less, y is 0.03 or more, and 1-x-y is more then 0).
US07887916B2
An adhesive film comprising a cycloalkanediol modified copolymerized polyester resin film and a thermosetting vinyl ester resin composition layer which is hardened at room temperature on said polyester resin film.
US07887904B2
A glass or ceramic dishware item having a contoured surface with an image disposed thereon is provided. The image is transferred to the contoured surface from a layered ink composite. The layered ink composite is created by depositing a first layer of thermoplastic ink onto a silicone substrate. A ceramic toner configured as an image is electrographically deposited onto the first layer of thermoplastic ink. A second layer of thermoplastic ink is then deposited onto the ceramic toner. The image is transferred, at ambient temperature, from the layered ink composite to the contoured surface of the dishware item by moving the second layer of thermoplastic ink and the contoured surface into contact. The dishware item is then fired.
US07887896B2
A fillet is disclosed for enhancing the appearance of a frame or mat and comprises a flexible material, an elastomeric cord and an adhesive securing the fabric to the cord. The flexible material may have one or more flairs which may have a tape adhesive which adheres the flairs to the frame, the matt, or parts of both of the frame and the mat. The fillet is flexible and may be bent to various geometries.
US07887895B2
An optical disc includes an annular substrate, a coating layer, a damping layer, and a leveling layer. The annular substrate includes a supporting portion, and a recording portion surrounding the supporting portion, wherein the recording portion has a recording surface located on a first side thereof. For disc clamping and cost saving, the supporting portion is thicker than the recording portion. The coating layer is formed on the recoding surface for recording dada. The damping layer is formed on the coating layer to shorten the response time of the optical disc to vibration. The leveling layer is formed on the side of the annular substrate opposite to the recording surface for leveling the disk deformation caused during fabrication. A method for fabricating the aforementioned optical disc is also disclosed.
US07887893B2
A biocomposite is produced from natural fiber fabrics embedded in a matrix of biosynthetic polyhydroxy-alkanoate (PHA) polymers. The PHA is synthesized using aerobic microbial biosynthesis using mixed bacterial cultures and a feedstock containing anaerobic degradation products such as methane and volatile fatty acids derived from microbial biodegradation of organic waste materials, which may include waste biocomposites. Monomers may be added to the synthesized PHA polymer to control mechanical properties of the resulting biocomposite. The natural fibers and/or PHA may be pretreated using various techniques to improve the bond between the fibers and the PHA resin matrix and water absorption resistance of the fibers. The composite may be a laminate of treated and untreated fabric layers, or differently treated layers, to achieve good in-service performance as well as rapid and/or optimal biogas production when taken out of service and put in an anaerobic environment to degrade.
US07887889B2
The application discloses articles and methods of plasma fluorination treatment that employ a capacitively-coupled system to fluorinate porous articles. The methods include placing the article to be treated within an ion sheath adjacent to an electrode and placing the article to be treated between powered and grounded electrodes separated by about 25 mm or less.
US07887882B2
The invention provides UV absorber solutions that do not require use of a solvent to prevent formation of insoluble reaction products. The invention is useful in the manufacture of ocular devices including spectacle, contact and intraocular lenses, but may find its greatest utility in the manufacture of spectacle lenses.
US07887870B2
This invention relates to a restructured meat product, comprising;(A) a fibrous material containing soy protein and soy cotyledon fiber, wherein said soy cotyledon fiber is present in the fibrous material in an amount of from 1% to 8%, by weight on a moisture free basis;(B) a comminuted meat; and(C) water.In another embodiment, the invention discloses a process for preparing a restructured meat product, comprising the steps of; hydrating(A) a fibrous material containing soy protein and soy cotyledon fiber, wherein said soy cotyledon fiber is present in the fibrous material in an amount of from 1% to 8%, by weight on a moisture free basis in water until the water is absorbed and the fibers are separated; and adding(B) a comminuted meat, wherein the temperature of the comminuted meat is below 10° C.; andmixing the fibrous material and the comminuted meat to produce a homogeneous, fibrous and texturized meat product having a moisture content of at least 50%.
US07887868B2
A liquid seasoning, comprising: (A) 3.55% by weight or less of sodium; (B) 0.5 to 4.2% by weight of potassium; and (C) 0.05 to 20% by weight of a substance having an antihypertensive effect. Salty taste is sufficiently provided despite its low sodium concentration, and pharmacological functions such as an antihypertensive effect are also provided at a high level.
US07887864B2
The invention provides a stable concentrated dairy liquid, such as concentrated milk, with improved flavor, color, and mouthfeel, and a method of production thereof. The method utilizes specific thermal treatments to produce the stable concentrated dairy liquid to which a stabilizer and mouthfeel enhancer are added. The resulting products have a sterilization value Fo of at least 5 that is also resistant to gelling and browning during high temperature sterilization and is also resistant to gelling and browning during storage for greater than six months. The method balances such thermal treatments with addition of stabilizer and enhancer to achieve the desired flavor/mouthfeel and sterilization and to achieve reduced level of soluble protein in the concentrated milk prior to concentration to resist gelation and minimize browning. Moreover, such processing may be utilized in a milk that is concentrated to a factor of 2.7 fold or higher and contains at least 8.5 percent protein.
US07887862B2
An apparatus and method for separating joined components, purifying liquid, promoting interaction between two or more components and improving combustion. The apparatus has a housing, a rotor inside of the housing, a plurality of protrusions extending from the rotor, a shaft coupled with the rotor and a prime mover for rotating the shaft. Fluid within the housing cavitates as the rotor rotates and the protrusions move through the fluid. Cavitation causes joined components within the fluid to separate, kills undesirable organisms within the fluid, promotes interaction of components within the fluid and improves combustion of a liquid fuel. The fluid and components may also be subjected to abrasion and centrifugal and impact forces for separating the components, purifying the fluid, promoting interaction of the components and improving combustion.
US07887855B2
The present invention relates to a Cynara scolymus extract with a high content of caffeoylquinic acids, and a composition containing said Cynara scolymus extract with a Phaseolus vulgaris extract. Said composition is useful in reducing obesity as it reduces cholesterol, triglycerides and blood glucose by sensitizing the cells to insulin. This combination, when taken before meals, reduces the appetite, leading to a reduction in body weight. The extracts are preferably formulated in Oenothera biennis oil, fish oil, or oils rich in unsaturated ω-3 fatty acids.
US07887841B2
A chronotherapeutic pharmaceutical formulation comprising a core containing an active agent (e.g., a drug) and a delayed release compression coating comprising a natural or synthetic gum applied onto the surface of the core.
US07887835B2
A steroid ester compound of a terminally-fluorinated alkyl fatty acid, a steroid compound having bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl group, a phosphatidylserine compound having a terminally-fluorinated alkyl group, a glyceride compound having bis(trifluoromethyl phenyl group, or a glyceride compound having a terminally-fluorinated alkyl group. A vascular lesion can be selectively imaged by using a contrast medium comprising a liposome containing said compound or a salt thereof.
US07887830B2
According to an aspect of the present invention, implantable or insertable medical devices are provided, which contain one or more polymeric regions. These polymeric regions, in turn, contain one or more polymers, at least one of which is a copolymer that includes a styrene monomer and an isobutylene monomer. Moreover, the styrene monomer content of the copolymer typically ranges from 25 to 50 mol %.
US07887820B2
This document relates to methods and materials involved in fungus-induced inflammation and eosinophil degranulation. For example, isolated nucleic acids encoding fungal polypeptides, fungal polypeptides, methods for assessing fungus-induced inflammation, methods for assessing eosinophil degranulation, and methods for identifying inhibitors of fungus-induced inflammation and/or eosinophil degranulation are provided.
US07887813B2
The present invention relates generally to viral variants exhibiting reduced sensitivity to particular agents and/or reduced interactivity with immunological reagents. More particularly, the present invention is directed to hepatitis B virus (HBV) variants exhibiting complete or partial resistance to nucleoside or nucleotide analogs and/or reduced interactivity with antibodies to viral surface components including reduced sensitivity to these antibodies. The present invention further contemplates assays for detecting such viral variants, which assays are useful in monitoring anti-viral therapeutic regimens and in developing new or modified vaccines directed against viral agents and in particular HBV variants. The present invention also contemplates the use of the viral variants to screen for and/or develop or design agents capable of inhibiting infection, replication and/or release of the virus.
US07887812B2
Targeted disruption of the centrin gene leads to attenuation of growth in Leishmania. Preferred embodiments of the invention provide attenuated strains of Leishmania useful for the preparation of immunogenic preparations including vaccines against a disease caused by infection with a virulent Leishmania strain and as tools for the generation of immunological and diagnostic reagents. Other preferred embodiments provide related immunogenic compositions, methods of generating an immune response, methods for producing a vaccine, and methods of forming attenuated strains of Leishmania.
US07887808B2
Naturally-occurring variants of human Rgr oncogene protein, in particular, abnormally truncated variants found in T cell malignancies, as well as the human Rgr protein are encompassed by the present invention. Also included are antibodies thereto and nucleic acid molecules encoding human Rgr protein and naturally-occurring variants thereof. The present invention further provides methods for diagnosing and treating T cell malignancies associated with abnormally truncated transcripts of human rgr oncogene and/or abnormal truncation of human Rgr protein.
US07887787B2
Disclosed is a hair conditioning composition comprising a silicone system comprising three types of silicones, and a gel matrix, wherein the silicone system comprising a first silicone having a high viscosity, a second silicone having a low viscosity, and a third silicone which is an aminosilicone, and wherein the composition is prepared by the steps of: the three types of silicones are mixed to form the silicone system; and the silicone system is mixed with the gel matrix. The composition of the present invention can provide improved conditioning benefits such as smooth feel and reduced friction.
US07887786B2
Care and/or make-up cosmetic composition comprising: a liquid continuous fatty Phase structured with at least one structuring polymer (homopolymer or copolymer) having a weight-average molecular mass ranging from 500 to 500 000, containing at least one moiety comprising: at least one polyorganosiloxane group consisting of 1 to 1 000 organosiloxane units in the chain of the moiety or in the form of a graft, and at least two groups capable of establishing hydrogen interactions, Chosen from ester, amide, sulphonamide, carbamate, thiocarbamate, urea, urethane, thiourea, oxamido, guanidino and biguanidino groups, and combinations thereof, the polymer being solid at room temperature and soluble in the liquid fatty Phase at a temperature of 25 to 250° C., the Said liquid fatty Phase comprising at least one compound capable of reducing the enthalpy of fusion of the structuring polymer, and then the liquid fatty Phase, the structuring polymer and the compound capable of reducing the enthalpy of fusion of the structuring polymer forming a physiologically acceptable medium.
US07887784B2
Racemic mixtures and enantiomerically pure forms of novel 1-[(2′-substituted)-piperazin-1′-yl]-isoquinolines are norepinephrine (NE) transporter (NET) inhibitor compounds. Compounds of the invention are considered therapeutic agents for central nervous system (CNS) diseases and disorders, without limitation, including neurodegeneration, anxiety, depression, attention deficit disorders, drug dependency, and post traumatic stress disorder. Examples of the chemical syntheses of the compounds of the invention are provided. The isoquinoline compounds of the invention competitively bind at NET at nanomolar concentrations. The isoquinoline agents of the invention bind selectively to NET over other competitive transporter targets and receptor binding sites, including those of serotonin and dopamine, amongst others. The chemical syntheses of the invention are suitable for labeling with radionuclide atoms. Radiolabeled forms of the novel 1-[(2′-substituted)-piperazin-1′-yl]-isoquinoline compounds are positron emission tomography and single photon emission tomography imaging tracers. Methods of in vivo imaging with the tracers within various subjects and tissues therein, including regions of the brain, are provided. Imaging methods with the tracers in combination other NET inhibitor agents are provided. The imaging methods within subjects allow quantitative detection of NET, determinations of NET distributions, and measures of tracer interactions at NET in the presence or absence of non-radioactive NET agents. The tracer imaging methods are suitable to locate, diagnose, identify, evaluate, detect or quantitate NET, or abnormalities of NET, or NE abnormalities; that are associated with various CNS diseases and disorders.
US07887780B2
Provided is a process which includes slowly adding dropwise chilled distilled water to titanium tetrachloride to prepare solution of titanium oxychloride; adding basic solution thereto to maintain pH of the titanium oxychloride solution within a range from 3.5 to 4, thereby providing a suspension of titanium oxyhydroxide precipitate; adding basic solution thereto to adjust the suspension of titanium oxyhydroxide precipitate to be weakly basic, and heating and stirring the mixture at 80 to 100° C.; isolating and collecting dihydroxy-oxotitanium from the heated and stirred suspension of titanium oxyhydroxide precipitate, and washing it with weakly basic aqueous solution; and adding distilled water and 20 to 500 folds of hydrogen peroxide on the basis of 1 mole of Ti4+ in titanium oxyhydroxide to the washed titanium oxyhydroxide, and heat-treating the mixture at a temperature of 90 to 100° C. for 1 to 7 days to prepare titania nanorods having the mean length of 100 nm to 300 nm.
US07887778B2
Nanowires, films, and membranes comprising ordered porous manganese oxide-based octahedral molecular sieves and methods of making the same are disclosed. A method for forming nanowires includes hydrothermally treating a chemical precursor composition in a hydrothermal treating solvent to form the nanowires, wherein the chemical precursor composition comprises a source of manganese cations and a source of counter cations, and wherein the nanowires comprise ordered porous manganese oxide-based octahedral molecular sieves.
US07887777B2
Hydrogen sulfide H2S is prepared from a crude gas stream containing H2S and polysulfanes (H2Sx). The crude gas stream is passed at temperatures of from 114 to 165° C. through catalytically active material present in a vessel, and sulfur is collected in the bottom of the vessel and recycled to the preparation of H2S. This process may be accomplished in an apparatus including a reactor for reacting sulfur and hydrogen, a cooler for receiving and cooling an H2S-containing crude gas stream passed out of the reactor to between 114 to 165° C., a vessel coupled to the cooler, the vessel including catalytically active material and a bottom for collecting sulfur obtained from the crude gas stream, and a line which is connected to the bottom of the vessel and opens into the cooler or into the reactor, for recycling sulfur.
US07887770B2
Provided is an adsorbent having excellent adsorption performance in a medium-humidity range by employing an amorphous aluminum silicate formed from protoimogolite. The amorphous aluminum silicate formed from protoimogolite is synthesized by setting the Si/Al ratio in solution mixing to be of a condition that is higher than synthesizing imogolite or amorphous imogolite, and performing desalting treatment and heating thereto. The obtained amorphous aluminum silicate formed from protoimogolite yields a superior water vapor adsorption performance of 30 wt % or higher at a relative humidity of 60%, and can be used as an adsorbent for desiccant air conditioning.
US07887769B1
A method of removing sulfur dioxide from flue gases using calcium and magnesium scrubbing components and treatment of oxidized effluent from such a system includes passing classified oxidized effluent to a regeneration tank and adding lime to produce a regenerator discharge containing magnesium hydroxide, gypsum and crystalline inert material. Gypsum is separated from the discharge and a magnesium hydroxide stream passed to a concentration system to produce a concentrated solids stream of magnesium hydroxide, residual minor amount of gypsum and crystalline inert material. A portion of the resultant stream is returned to the sulfur dioxide removal system while a portion is passed to the oxidizer. Further portions may be fed to a power plant boiler or to the flue gas stream between a solids collection device and the wet scrubber.
US07887756B2
A microfluidic system. The system comprises: (A) a microfluidics platform comprising: a compliant body having a microfluidic channel defined therein; a valve sleeve defined by a section of the microfluidic channel, the valve sleeve having a membrane wall defining part of an outer surface of the body; and a compression member for pinching the membrane wall against an opposed wall of the valve sleeve; and (B) a MEMS integrated circuit bonded to the outer surface of the body, the MEMS integrated circuit comprising: a moveable finger engaged with the compression member, the finger being configured to urge the compression member between a closed position in which the membrane wall is sealingly pinched against the opposed wall, and an open position in which the membrane wall is disengaged from the opposed wall; a thermal bend actuator associated with the finger, the actuator configured for controlling movement of the finger; and control circuitry for controlling actuation of the actuator so as to control opening and closing of the valve sleeve.
US07887754B2
Nanocolumn chromatography devices useful, e.g., in CEC and nanoLC are disclosed. An exemplary chromatography device of the invention includes a nanocolumn, e.g., a capillary, packed with a particulate stationary phase material and a solid support. The solid support, or in situ frit, is adjacent to and integral with the stationary phase material. An in situ frit of the invention may be a mixture of the stationary phase material and a polymeric network of cross-linked poly(diorganosiloxane), e.g., poly(dimethylsiloxane), which may optionally be sintered. The invention also provides methods of making and using such devices.
US07887753B2
The present invention provides microfluidic devices and methods for using the same. In particular, microfluidic devices of the present invention are useful in conducting a variety of assays and high throughput screening. Microfluidic devices of the present invention include elastomeric components and comprise a main flow channel; a plurality of branch flow channels; a plurality of control channels; and a plurality of valves. Preferably, each of the valves comprises one of the control channels and an elastomeric segment that is deflectable into or retractable from the main or branch flow channel upon which the valve operates in response to an actuation force applied to the control channel.
US07887734B2
A polymer is formed into the shape of a one-piece composite part and then solidified by curing, setting, hardening or otherwise solidifying the polymer to form a shaped polymer form having a shape that does not draw. Composite material is laid up on the form and solidified to from the composite part. The rigidity required of the form to lay up the composite part can be provided by operating in the polymer form's glassy state, forming the shaped polymer form with a hollow core and placing a rigid insert designed to draw inside the hollow core with the polymer form in its elastomeric state or through a combination of both. In its elastomeric state the form becomes pliable (without relaxing to a different memorized shape) and can be drawn out of the one-piece composite part. Because the shape of the form does not draw, the form deforms as it is drawn. If used, the rigid insert is drawn out prior to removing the shaped polymer form. Upon removal, the polymer form in its elastomeric state returns to its original shape. The form may be used once and thrown away or reused to form multiple composite parts of the same shape.
US07887733B2
A device and method of making a peel-away introducer sheath adapted for use in transcutaneous insertions of medical instrumentation according to an embodiment of the present invention includes, forming at least two anchor apertures in an end portion of a peel-away sheath tube, molding a fitting around the end portion by passing molten resin into a fitting mold and through the at least two anchor apertures, and cooling the resin within the mold and the at least two anchor apertures to thereby fasten the fitting to the sheath tube.
US07887729B2
A method for fabricating a product, such as an animatronic character, with artificial skin. The method includes providing data defining an exterior surface geometry of the product. A base geometry model of the product is generated based on the exterior surface geometry data, which in turn is used to fabricate a prototype of the product. Then, an exterior skin mold is formed using the product prototype mounted on an alignment block. The method includes fabricating an inner support structure based on the base geometry model having an exterior geometry smaller than the 3D base geometry model by the thickness of the exterior skin. The inner support structure is positioned within the mold with the inner support structure mounted upon the alignment block, which is received in the mold. The product is formed by pouring material for an exterior skin layer into the mold and over the inner support structure.
US07887723B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method which can easily and selectively modify specific sites on indentations or protrusions of indentation/protrusion structures fabricated by nano-imprinting. Pressing a mold having indentation/protrusion structures onto a polymer substrate comprising at least two layers of different chemical composition exposes the second layer, which has been covered by the outermost layer, in pillars formed as a result of the pressing. Site-specific chemical modification of the pillars can be achieved by formulating a desired chemical composition for the second layer beforehand, or by chemical modification of the exposed second layer cross-sections in the pillars.
US07887722B1
The present invention includes preparing a carrier web with uniformly spaced images and corresponding registration marks at regular intervals, applying an energy curable resin coating to the carrier web either uniformly or in selected spots, providing a master web carrying uniformly spaced impressing images and corresponding registration marks at regular intervals where accurate alignment of the registration marks of the carrier web and the master web is achieved by stretching the master web to align the registration marks. The invention also comprises an apparatus including: (1) sensors which sense the location of the registration marks on the carrier web and the master web; (2) a computer programmed to monitor error signals representing the on-the-fly deviation in the alignment of the master and carrier web registration marks and makes determinations of the amount of stretching that must be applied to the master web in order to bring the registration marks into alignment; and (3) means for achieving the appropriate stretching of the master web to produce the desired alignment. In an alternative embodiment, a carrier web may also be prepared with a registered impressed image but a master drum will be used in lieu of the master web and the carrier web will be stretched as necessary to achieve image alignment.
US07887719B2
Novel phosphor systems for a white LED are disclosed. The phosphor systems are excited by a non-visible to near-UV radiation source having an excitation wavelength ranging from about 250 to 420 nm. The phosphor system may comprise one phosphor, two phosphors, and may include optionally a third and even a fourth phosphor. In one embodiment of the present invention, the phosphor is a two phosphor system having a blue phosphor and a yellow phosphor, wherein the long wavelength end of the blue phosphor is substantially the same wavelength as the short wavelength end of the yellow phosphor. Alternatively, there may be a wavelength gap between the yellow and blue phosphors. The yellow phosphor may be phosphate or silicate-based, and the blue phosphor may be silicate or aluminate-based. Single phosphor systems excited by non-visible radiation are also disclosed. In other embodiments of present invention, a single phosphor is used to produce white light illumination, the single phosphor having a broad emission spectrum with a peak intensity ranging from about 520 to 560 nm.
US07887718B2
To provide a phosphor having an emission spectrum with a broad peak in a range from green color to yellow color, having a broad and flat excitation band capable of using lights of broad range from near ultraviolet/ultraviolet to blue lights as excitation lights, and having excellent emission efficiency and luminance. The problem is solved by providing the phosphor expressed by a general composition formula MmAaBbOoNn:Z (where element M is one or more kinds of elements having bivalent valency, element A is one or more kinds of elements having tervalent valency, element B is one or more kinds of elements having tetravalent valency, O is oxygen, N is nitrogen, and element Z is one or more kinds of elements acting as the activator), satisfying 4.0<(a+b)/m<7.0, a/m=0.5, b/a>2.5, n>o, n=2/3m+a+4/3b−2/3o, and having an emission spectrum with a peak wavelength of 500 nm to 650 nm when excited by light in a wavelength range from 300 nm to 500 nm.
US07887717B2
The present invention relates to a liquid-crystalline medium having high twist, to the use thereof for electro-optical purposes, and to displays containing this medium.
US07887713B2
A method includes forming a first electrode and a second electrode on a base body. The Method also includes chemically etching at least a portion of the base body to adjust a resistance of the base body measured between the first electrode and the second electrodes to a predetermined value.
US07887710B2
A method of patterning a transparent conductive film adaptive for selectively etching a transparent conductive film without any mask processes, a thin film transistor for a display device using the same and a fabricating method thereof are disclosed. In the method of patterning the transparent conductive film, an inorganic material substrate is prepared. An organic material pattern is formed at a desired area of the inorganic material substrate. A thin film having a different crystallization rate depending upon said inorganic material and said organic material is formed. The thin film is selectively etched in accordance with said crystallization rate.
US07887705B2
Improvements on a system for treating residual water, presents a new solution for the conformation of a system for treating residual water and for such purpose, it basically consists of a lower blanket (1), preferably produced in PVC, and of a cover blanket (2), which is also preferably produced in PVC, in any color, which may be double-faced, including, in the present model still features a reactor (3), a deep chamber (4) and an anaerobic pond (5), and such elements may be excavated in the soil (S) or made of stonemasonry or any kind of suitable material for this purpose.
US07887704B2
One embodiment is a filter element including an outer filter media and an inner filter media. The outer filter media is operable to remove particulates present in a flow of fluid and/or coalesce water contained in the flow of fluid. The inner filter media is operable to remove particulates from the flow of fluid, separate water form the flow of fluid, and remove particulates from the flow of fluid. Other embodiments include unique apparatus, devices, systems, and methods relating to fuel filters and filtration. Further embodiments, forms, objects, features, advantages, aspects, and benefits of the present application shall become apparent from the detailed description and figures included herewith.
US07887702B2
A filtering apparatus is provided for filtering raw water containing various impurities and mixtures into purified water, and more particularly, a multistage filtering apparatus is provided in which a rotor for generating vortex are installed in each of multiple layers of filtration membrane stacked within a closed barrel and the rotors are formed in multistage by having different diameter of each rotor so that the power for generating vortex can be remarkably minimized by generating the vertical vortex from top and bottom of the rotary rotor and the horizontal vortex from the outer side of circumference plate of the rotary rotor to be crossed over between membranes to prevent from blocking the pores or remove the deposited pollutants, and the closed-type barrel having multistage of membranes, rotary shaft, and rotary rotors for vortex generation within are constructed as a single module of filter pack, and the filter pack is connected and extended in accordance with required purified capacity so that large scale installation of filtering apparatus is possible.
US07887701B2
A filter assembly, having a housing including a housing bottom portion; at least one ring filter element that is received by at least one receiving space defined at least in part by the housing, wherein the receiving space includes a receiving space bottom portion; a cover attached to the housing bottom portion and configured for at least partially enclosing the at least one receiving space and the ring filter element, wherein the at least one receiving space may be selectively emptied when the cover is removed; an outlet located at the receiving space bottom portion within the cover; and a closure located on the at least one ring filter element, wherein the closure is configured to at least partially close the outlet when the at least one ring filter element is inserted into the at least one receiving space.
US07887695B2
A fuel for a homogeneous charge compression ignition engine having a 95 V % distilled temperature by boiling point measurement in the range of about 35.degree. C. to about 350.degree. C., a cetane number in the range of about 2 to about 120, and an octane number in the range of 10 to about 110. The invention also relates to a method of operating a homogeneous charge compression ignition engine of mixing a fuel with air and feeding the fuel into a combustion chamber.
US07887690B2
A ligand DNA including a probe portion having a sequence that is complementary to a target DNA to be detected in a sample DNA, and a probe portion having a base sequence that is complementary to a base sequence of a marker DNA 2 in a conjugate DNA 10 is formed, and the sample DNA and the ligand DNA are combined to form a DNA complex, and further, the DNA complex is made to perform electrophoresis in the conjugate DNA. Therefore, it is possible to provide a DNA separation detection method which can appropriately separate the sample DNA and deal with various kinds of target sample DNAs in short time, without the necessity of searching for an optimum electrophoresis condition by complicatedly combining the amount of a bonding control agent to be contained in the conjugate DNA, the viscosity of linear polymer, the amount of the sample DNA, the amount of the conjugate DNA, and the like, for each DNA sequence as a detection target, when separating the sample DNA by electrophoresis.
US07887688B2
Disclosed is a production process of an electronic circuit that can efficiently form a highly accurate electrically conductive pattern. The production process comprises the steps of: adhering insulating particles onto an electrically conductive base material to form an insulating pattern comprising a pattern region and a nonpattern region on the electrically conductive base material; adhering electrically conductive particles to the nonpattern region by first electrophoretic treatment; removing the pattern region by second electrophoretic treatment; and transferring the electrically conductive particles onto a recording medium to form an electrically conductive pattern of the electrically conductive particles onto the recording medium.
US07887686B2
The invention concerns a method for free solution capillary electrophoresis at an alkaline pH to analyze samples comprising haemoglobin, in which the sample is passed through a capillary containing an analysis buffer, comprising at least one step in which the sample is introduced into a capillary tube containing a solution of analysis buffer, characterized in that the buffer is of the zwitterionic type and in that it is associated with at least one flow inhibitor. It also concerns the use of CE flow inhibitors associated with at least one zwitterionic buffer, and a kit for analyzing haemoglobin by capillary electrophoresis.
US07887677B2
A silicon object formation target substrate is arranged in a first chamber, a silicon sputter target is arranged in a second chamber communicated with the first chamber, plasma for chemical sputtering is formed from a hydrogen gas in the second chamber, chemical sputtering is effected on the silicon sputter target with the plasma thus formed, producing particles contributing to formation of silicon object, whereby a silicon object is formed, on the substrate, from the particles moved from the second chamber to the first chamber.
US07887675B2
Press for a fiber web supported by a clothing, said press having first and second press elements that interact with each other in order to form an extended nip in a press zone for the clothing-supported fiber web, said first press element having: —a support; —a press body, being supported by the support; —an endless, flexible belt, sliding over and forming a closed loop around the press body; and —a support element, being placed inside the loop for supporting the belt, said clothing surrounding together with the belt between a first position and a second position along the loop, wherein at least the first position is located outside the press zone. According to the invention, the support element is located in the first position. The invention also relates to a method in, and a press element for such a press.
US07887674B2
A support body for an apparatus having an extended nip that is defined by a contact surface of the support body and an opposed surface, the support body having two side surfaces facing from each other and connecting to the contact surface, and a bottom surface facing from the contact surface, the support body being arranged to be moved towards the opposite surface by means of a loading system in order to load the nip via the contact surface. The support body is elastically deformable and has its contact surface adaptable to the opposite surface in interaction therewith. A method of forming an extended nip in an apparatus includes loading the support body by means of a loading system, and a method of controlling the load in the extended nip includes designing the support body with at least two layers with different elasticity providing a corresponding load profile.
US07887671B2
The method and a device is for the dilution of dewatered cellulose pulp that maintains a consistency of 20-30% or greater. By shredding of the pulp to a finely divided dry-granulate, dilution to a homogeneous consistency in the medium consistency range can take place exclusively through hydrodynamic effects from the addition of dilution fluid. The dilution fluid is added to granulate at a position at which granulate is in free fall in a standpipe and above a level LiqLEV of diluted pulp in the standpipe. A number of nozzles are arranged around the periphery of the stand pipe, directed in towards the centre of the stand pipe, obliquely downwards in the direction of fall of the granulate. It is possible through this simplified procedure to avoid completely the conventional dilution screws, and this reduces the investment costs and operating costs, while at the same time unnecessary mechanical influence of the pulp fibres can be avoided.
US07887669B2
The invention provides a plasma processing apparatus for processing a wafer mounted on a sample stage placed in a vacuum processing chamber using a plasma generated in the vacuum chamber. The plasma processing apparatus comprises a plate placed in the vacuum processing vessel above and opposed to the wafer, the plate having a through hole through which a first processing gas is introduced; a first and second cylindrical member arranged vertically and adjacently; and means communicating with the gap between the first and second cylindrical member for supplying a second processing gas. The wafer is processed while the first processing gas and the second processing gas having different compositions are supplied.
US07887667B2
A heat transfer paper configured to reduce the amount of stray toner on a heat transfer material, especially when the image is formed via a laser printer or laser copier, is generally disclosed. The heat transfer material includes an image-receptive coating overlying a splittable layer and a base sheet. The image-receptive coating includes thermoplastic polyolefin wax microparticles, a thermoplastic binder, and a humectant. The thermoplastic polyolefin wax microparticles have an average particle size of from about 30 microns to about 50 microns and melt at temperatures between about 130° C. and about 200° C.
US07887647B2
A soft magnetic material includes a plurality of composite magnetic particles each including a metal magnetic particle and an insulating coating film covering the metal magnetic particle. Each of the plurality of composite magnetic particles has a ratio Rm/c of a maximum diameter to a circle-equivalent diameter of more than 1.15 and not more than 1.35. The insulating coating film is composed of a thermosetting organic material and has a pencil hardness of 5H or higher after thermosetting. With this material, an eddy current loss can be reduced, and a compact with a high strength can be formed.
US07887643B2
A dishwasher provides forced air flow in a counter-convectional direction so as to exhaust air out of a bottom portion of the washing volume in contrast to normal convective air flow.
US07887640B2
A medical manipulator and a cleaning method therefor are provided. The medical manipulator includes an operation command unit equipped with a motor, and a working unit, which is detachable with respect to the operation command unit. A connector of the working unit is connected to the operation command unit, and includes pulleys that engage with the motor, the connector serving to rotatably retain the pulleys therein. The connector has an elongate shape extending in the longitudinal direction of a connecting shaft, and a first cleaning hole is arranged in an end portion of the connector that is opposite to a side on which the connecting shaft is connected. A second cleaning hole opens into an interior cavity, in the vicinity of an end portion on the side where the connecting shaft is connected. The end portions are shaped substantially hemispherically.
US07887637B2
In a substrate processing apparatus for performing a plasma process on a substrate including a tungsten-containing film, cleaning is performed for a process chamber. This cleaning includes, after the plasma process, supplying a gas containing O2 into the process chamber without setting the process chamber opened to the atmosphere, and generating plasma of the gas to clean the process chamber.
US07887635B2
The present invention provides a printing head for nano patterning including a manifold for accommodating a liquid printing material, a cartridge with an injection chamber communicating with the manifold, and a sample holder for patterning installed outside the injection chamber of the cartridge. The printing head comprises a shadow mask which is installed outside the injection chamber to be finely moved in an X-Y direction and has a single injection hole with a relatively very small size; an actuator for finely moving the shadow mask; an injection-inducing unit including a high voltage generator, a power supply electrode that is installed within the injection chamber and receives power from the high voltage generator to generate positive charges, and an opposite electrode for generating negative charges on the sample holder in a state where the shadow mask is interposed between the power supply electrode and the opposite electrode, thereby generating induced discharge from the injection chamber toward the sample holder; and a control unit for controlling the driving of the actuator so that the injection hole of the shadow mask can be moved to patterning positions corresponding to patterning data input in advance. According to the present invention, patterning accuracy can be improved, ultra-fine patterning and patterning of arbitrary shapes can be achieved, and a configuration for injecting the printing material can be simplified.
US07887634B2
In a method of producing a semiconductor element in a substrate, a plurality of carbide precipitates is formed in the substrate, doping atoms are implanted into the substrate, thereby forming crystal defects in the substrate, the substrate is heated, such that at least a part of the crystal defects is eliminated using the carbide precipitates, and the semiconductor element is formed using the doping atoms.
US07887631B2
An apparatus for growing a synthetic diamond comprises a growth chamber, at least one manifold allowing access to the growth chamber, and a plurality of safety clamps positioned on opposite sides of the growth chamber; wherein the growth chamber and the plurality of safety clamps are comprised of a material having a tensile strength of about 120,000-200,000 psi, a yield strength of about 100,000-160,000 psi, an elongation of about 10-20%, an area reduction of about 40-50%, an impact strength of about 30-40 ft-lbs, and a hardness greater than 320 BHN.
US07887629B2
The core of the present invention resides in supplying pigment in a kind of “basic grade”, preferably as a solid, and milling in an aqueous phase in situ in a satellite milling plant to obtain the desired whiteness and grain size. As a result of this invention, papermakers are no longer bound to predetermined particle sizes of the fresh pigments and/or fresh fillers and pigment slurries obtainable from suppliers of raw materials. Papermakers are capable of preparing themselves pigment slurries in a satellite plant in situ according to the current needs. This permits a flexible and quick reaction to changing quality and production requirements, as well as lower shipping costs because no water is shipped as would be necessary in the usual slurry, and an improved stability of the self-prepared pigment slurry, as compared to the prior art.
US07887627B2
Dye-based black ink formulations, ink-jet ink sets, and methods of making a dye-based black ink formulation, are disclosed.
US07887618B2
Methods are provided for reducing emission of mercury from a gas stream by treating the gas with carbonaceous mercury sorbent particles to reduce the mercury content of the gas; collecting the carbonaceous mercury sorbent particles on collection plates of a hot-side ESP; periodically rapping the collection plates to release a substantial portion of the collected carbonaceous mercury sorbent particles into hoppers; and periodically emptying the hoppers, wherein such rapping and emptying are done at rates such that less than 70% of mercury adsorbed onto the mercury sorbent desorbs from the collected mercury sorbent into the gas stream.
US07887603B2
High purity copper sulfate having a purity of 99.99% or higher and in which the content of transition metals such as Fe, Cr, Ni is 3 wtppm or less; and a method for producing such high purity copper sulfate which includes the steps of dissolving copper sulfate crystals in purified water, performing evaporative concentration thereto, removing the crystals precipitated initially, performing further evaporative concentration to effect crystallization, and subjecting this to filtration to obtain high purity copper sulfate. This manufacturing method of high purity copper sulfate allows the efficient removal of impurities from commercially available copper sulfate crystals at a low cost through dissolution with purified water and thermal concentration.
US07887598B2
An implant for deployment in select locations or select tissue for regeneration of tissue is disclosed. The implant includes collagen and or other bio-resorbable materials, where the implant may also be used for therapy delivery. Additionally, the implant may be “matched” to provide the implant with similar physical and/or chemical properties as the host tissue.
US07887595B1
A spinal fusion implant of non-bone construction to be introduced into an intervertebral disc space for the promotion of spinal fusion.
US07887583B2
A heart valve implant has a body sized and configured to rest near or within a heart valve annulus. A plurality of spaced-apart retainers extend outwardly from the body to contact tissue near or within the heart valve annulus. The retainers are sized and configured to secure the body to the heart valve annulus. The implant can be secured, e.g., without the use of sutures.
US07887562B2
A tissue opening occluder comprising first and second occluder portions, each occluder portion including a frame structure and an attachment structure to attach one portion to the other portion. The frames may be utilized to constrain the tissue between the two portions enough to restrict the significant passage of blood therethrough. The frame portions may be covered by a fabric suspended from a perimeter thereof. The occluder portions are conjoined at least one point on each portion.
US07887561B2
A vessel filter comprising first and second filtering portions and first and second anchoring portions. A transverse dimension of the first filtering portion in an expanded configuration is less than a transverse dimension of the anchoring portion in an expanded configuration, and a transverse dimension of the second filtering portion is less than a transverse dimension of the second anchoring portion. The first and second filtering portions are positioned closer to each other than the first and second anchoring portions, and the anchoring portions are formed on first and second opposite portions of the vessel filter. Preferably a sleeve is positioned between the first and second filter portions.
US07887559B2
A cutting accessory for use with a powered surgical tool. The accessory includes a drive shaft to which an outer hub is attached. Internal to the outer hub is a self-contained transponder formed from an RFID chip and a coil of electrical conductor embedded within a solid substrate or encapsulated within a plastic enclosure. The transponder wirelessly communicates one or more pieces of information concerning the identity and operation of the accessory to the surgical tool when the accessory is attached to the surgical tool.
US07887549B2
A robotic catheter system includes a housing and a drive assembly. The drive assembly is supported by the housing and configured to impart movement to a catheter device and includes a first channel configured to receive the catheter device. The robotic catheter system includes at least one magnet positioned adjacent to the first channel to allow the magnet to interact with the catheter device to assist in the retention of the catheter device within the first channel.
US07887547B2
An implant, particularly for the spinal column, comprises a plate having openings, bone-anchoring members capable of being accommodated in the openings and at least one split-ring capable of holding the members in the orifices. The split-ring can come into direct contact with the anchoring member or members to hold the member or members in the orifices.
US07887546B2
A surgical instrument and method are provided for positioning an osteochondral plug within a bone defect site. The instrument includes an elongate shaft, a ribbon, an elongate sleeve and a locking mechanism. The shaft has proximal and distal ends, with the distal end being shaped to contact the osteochondral plug. The ribbon extends along two sides of the shaft and around the distal end, forming a loop that is used to secure the osteochondral plug to the distal end. The sleeve is movably mounted to the shaft for reciprocating relative thereto between retracted and extended positions. The sleeve includes a slot that allows for visualization and cutting of the ribbon. The locking mechanism locks the ribbon in place and thereby controls the size and tension of the loop that surrounds the osteochondral plug, securing it to the distal end of the shaft.
US07887539B2
Spinal rod approximator for seating a stabilizing rod in a rod-receiving portion of a spinal implant and inserting a closure mechanism is provided. In one embodiment, a spinal rod approximator is provided including a body with gripping branches, inserter shaft, threaded collar, and outer sleeve. The cylindrical outer sleeve is disposed about the distal end portion of the body and is movable between a first position and a second position in which the outer sleeve inhibits separation of the gripping branches.
US07887537B2
An external fixation system having a fixation component (20) comprising: a) a first capture member (24) adapted to capture a second element (26) of an orthopedic fixation system; and (b) a second capture member (22) adapted to capture a second element (28) of an orthopedic fixation system and coupled to the first capture member such that the coupling (86,94,110) allows the first capture member and the second capture member to rotate about three axes relative to each other element and move along that axis; wherein the coupling is adapted to secure the first and the second capture members from rotation with an activation (100); and wherein the second capture member is adapted to capture the second element by snapping onto the second element from substantially perpendicular to longitudinal axis of the second element
US07887522B2
A pull-on wearable article includes a main portion including an outer cover, the main portion defining a front waist region, a rear waist region, and a crotch region extending between and connecting the front and rear waist regions. First and second extendable side panels extend between and connect the main portion front waist region and the main portion rear waist region to form the article in a closed waist configuration, at least a portion of each side panel being extendable between a relaxed state and an extended state. The article defines first and second side regions, each side region including one of the first and second side panels and a transverse region of the main portion bordering the respective side panel. An informational image is disposed in at least the first side region. The article may further include a texture feature formed in an outer surface of the article and positioned proximate to the informational image to form a composite image. Alternatively or additionally, the image includes a cognitively functional graphic.
US07887520B2
A pressure compensating IV rate flow regulator having a housing with a metering port and an outlet. The flow rate is set by adjusting a flexible disk to vary the clearance between metering port and flow passageway. The controlled fluid passes to a land surrounding the outlet. A flexible control membrane having specific design and material characteristics extends across the land and will move or oscillate away or towards the outlet port in response to changes in head pressure, venous back pressure or patient movement. The resulting oscillation of the membrane serves to maintain the flow rate originally set by the clinician. The regulator is provided with safety and operational convenience features such as tactile indicators for “off” and KVO settings and has provision for use with accessory items such as a pole mount holder or anchoring device secured at the forearm or chest.
US07887517B2
An injection device assembly includes a dispensing chamber housing and a plunger. The dispensing chamber housing is coupled to a needle. The dispensing chamber housing has an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface partially defines a dispensing chamber for holding a quantity of a substance. A dosage of a substance is cast into the dispensing chamber housing or cast onto a plunger that is inserted into the dispensing chamber housing.
US07887513B2
A chemical liquid injection system which a piston driving mechanism is driven only when a cylinder holding mechanism appropriately holds liquid syringes of various sizes through a cylinder adapter and such manner. When the liquid syringe 200S of a size other than the maximum size is appropriately held by the cylinder holding mechanism 120, RFID chip 230 is located on the side at the rear of metallic cylinder holding mechanism 120. A pair of resonance antennas are disposed on the left and right of the RFID chip, and an RFID reader 131 is disposed below the resonance antennas. When the liquid syringe 200S is appropriately held by the cylinder holding mechanism 120, RFID chip 230 wirelessly communicates with RFID reader 131 favorably, and the piston driving mechanism can be operated only in this state.
US07887508B2
Embodiments of an implantable device for delivering a therapeutic agent to a patient includes a reservoir configured to contain a liquid comprising the therapeutic agent and a cannula in fluid communication with the reservoir. The device and related methods may provide such features as constant-flow operation, an electrolytic mode of pumping, and/or wireless communication.
US07887505B2
A device for delivering fluid to a patient including an exit port assembly adapted to connect to a transcutaneous patient access tool, a flow path extending from the exit port assembly, and a flow condition sensor assembly including a resilient diaphragm having opposing first and second surfaces. The first surface of the diaphragm is positioned against the flow path, and a chamber wall is positioned adjacent the second surface of the diaphragm and defines a sensor chamber against the second surface of the diaphragm. At least one sensor is arranged to provide a threshold signal when the second surface of the diaphragm expands into the chamber in response to at least one predetermined fluid flow condition occurring in the flow path.
US07887495B2
A removable protective covering is provided that can be secured about an external fixation device on the upper or lower extremity of a patient. The covering includes a fabric form that is sized and configured to accommodate varying sizes of external fixation devices and uses readily engageable/releasable closure elements or fasteners to securely engage the covering about the fixator and the extremity. A drawstring closure may be provided at the open ends of the covering to tighten the end about the patient's limb. Ventilation features may be provided including vents with and without additional devices to generate air flow through the covering. The covering for a lower extremity fixation device may be configured for removably attachment to a foot plate and the foot plate itself may be configured to support or attach to the fixation device.
US07887494B2
Arrangements are provided including a fluid transport tube, or a needle, having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and a lumen having an inner diameter. At least one fluid transport enhancing projection is disposed in the lumen and extends from the second end toward the first end. A discreet, wearable blood glucose monitor including such arrangements is also described.
US07887492B1
A monitoring device (20) and method (200) for monitoring the health of a user is disclosed herein. The monitoring device (20) is preferably an article (25), an optical sensor (30), a circuitry assembly (35) a display member (40) and a control component (43). The monitoring device (20) preferably displays the following information about the user: pulse rate; calories expended by the user of a pre-set time period; target zones of activity; time; and distance traveled.
US07887490B2
The invention relates to a method and a device for removing respiratory artefacts in invasive blood pressure measurements. The level of CO2 in the expired air is monitored during blood pressure measurement and used to approximate and remove the respiratory artifacts. In one embodiment, the respiratory frequency from the respiratory signal is extracted by identifying the end-tidal CO2 level for each breath. A model is derived for the respiratory artifacts using the respiratory frequency, and the model is subtracted from the measured blood pressure data.
US07887489B2
The present invention relates to a drowsiness detection method. A heartbeat signal and a breathing signal are detected by exploiting together a scheme and an optical system scheme. The detected signals are applied to respective amplification units, noise signals are eliminated from the detected signals, and noise-free signals are amplified. The amplified signals are applied to a central processing unit, signal processing is processed on the signals, and processed signals are combined. The combined signal is counted, and a warning sound, voice message or vibration is output in a case where a value, obtained by subtracting a counted output value monitored one minute before a current time, from a counted output value monitored two minutes before the current time, falls within a detection range and where, with a passage of time, the value falling within the detection range is successively detected from two to ten times.
US07887487B2
Diagnostic ultrasound flow imaging is performed with coded excitation pulses. Due to the use of frequency coded excitation pulses, flow information may suffer from spatial misregistration and estimate errors. Spatial position shift in flow data is offset for alignment with B-mode or other imaging. The flow estimates are compensated for the imaging center frequency variation with depth. The wide bandwidth information available due to coded excitation may allow anti-aliasing by estimating velocities from two frequency bands.
US07887484B2
Velocity scale is automatically determined for ultrasound imaging. Receive signals corresponding to different pulse repetition intervals are used to estimate velocities. The different velocities are used to determine the velocity scale. For example, the different pulse repetition intervals are obtained by selecting different sets of signals from a group of signals for a scan line. As another example, the different pulse repetition intervals are obtained by transmitting for a scan line with changing, such as increasing, pulse repetition intervals. The lower pulse repetition interval of a pair of intervals associated with a sign change in the phase is used for the velocity scale. In yet another example, at least two demodulation frequencies are used for a broadband transmit in at least two sets, each set with a different pulse repetition interval. Velocities are estimated for a greater number of pulse repetition intervals than transmitted using the broadband pulses.
US07887467B2
An improvement to a striking bag for boxing or martial arts practice, which provides aural feedback to the user, as to the accuracy of strikes. Compressible pneumatic targets (10-A, 10-B, 10-C) are mounted partially into the side of a striking bag (9). Targets (10-A,10-B,10-C) are compressible both outside and inside the surface of the striking bag (9). When any of the pneumatic targets (10-A, 10-B, 10-C) are compressed by a strike, displaced air is driven into a pneumatic hose (34, 36, 38 respectively) which runs through the interior of the striking bag, connecting the pneumatic target to a whistle (12). Flexible washers on the inside (14) and outside (16) of striking bag (9) mount each pneumatic target (such as 10-A), onto striking bag (9). The inner washer (14), and outer washer (16), are connected through the surface of striking bag (9) by bolts (18,20,26, 28) and nuts (22,24,30,32). Alternate embodiments include pneumatic targets (10-D,10-E,10-F, 10-G,10-H).
US07887466B1
A treadmill includes a drive roller disposed in a tread base, a treadmill belt engaged with the drive roller, and a wheel attached to the drive roller and rotated in concert with the drive roller, and an electric generating device is attached to the tread base and includes a fan device attached to a spindle, and the spindle is engaged with the wheel for allowing the spindle of the electric generating device to be driven and rotated by the wheel and the drive roller and the treadmill belt in order to generate the electric energy, and the fan device is also to be driven and rotated by the wheel and the drive roller and the treadmill belt without the other electric energy, in order to generate the circulating or ventilating air to cool the user.
US07887465B2
An exercise device includes a first crank arm assembly and a second crank arm assembly supporting opposite portions of a guide. A first foot pad is coupled to the guide to reciprocate along the guide. A foot pad link has a first end portion pivotably connected to the foot pad and a second end portion pivotably supported about an axis that is movable along one of a plurality of user selectable paths, each of the plurality of user selectable paths having a different length.
US07887463B2
An exercise apparatus including a frame having a front portion and side portions, independently movable foot platforms connected to the frame, the foot platforms being movable in at least fore-aft and lateral directions, each of the foot platforms comprising a carriage and a movable portion, the movable portion being configured for elevational movement with respect to the carriage so as to provide a variety of exercises involving independent leg motion in any one, two or three axes and independently variable generally opposing resistance modules connected between the foot platforms and the frame where the variable resistance modules are configured to independently control elevational travel of the movable portion and fore-aft, abduction and adduction movement of the foot platforms and are conveniently adjustable during or before use.
US07887459B2
A mobile unit configured to train an athlete is disclosed. The mobile unit includes multiple sensors, communication devices and a mobility system. The mobile unit executes one or more training paths to simulate chasing associated with various sports. The mobile unit is capable of determining its own location and the location of the athlete throughout a training session, as well as other information. The mobile unit is configured to adapt the training path to stress weaknesses of the athlete with respect to various types of athletic skills.
US07887455B2
A bicycle hub transmission basically includes a hub axle, a driver, a hub shell, a power transmission mechanism and a shift mechanism. The driver is rotatably supported relative to the hub axle. The hub shell is rotatably supported relative to the driver. The power transmission mechanism includes a downstream planetary gear unit and an upstream planetary gear unit disposed between the driver and the hub shell to selectively transmit rotational power from the driver to the hub shell through one a plurality of power transmission paths. The shift mechanism is operatively coupled to the power transmission mechanism to select one of the power transmission paths. The downstream planetary gear unit includes at least a first sun gear, a second sun gear and a planetary gear carrier that meshes with planetary gears of the upstream planetary gear unit.
US07887454B2
A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices are clutches and brakes.
US07887451B2
The invention relates to an infinitely variable transmission comprising a support body, peripheral gears mounted on the support body or on elements that are coupled thereto such that the rotating shafts thereof are oriented parallel to each other. The distances between the rotational shafts of the peripheral gears can be adjusted to always be located on the outer surface of an (imaginary) cylinder; at least one row of elements which surround the peripheral gears and with which at least one of the peripheral gears engages; a rotational body, preferably coaxial to the axis of rotation of the (imaginary) cylinder, whose rotary movement is coupled to the rotary movement of the peripheral gears. The rotational coupling between the peripheral gears and the (central) rotational body is effected by means of one or more differentials, so that an asynchronous rotation of the peripheral gears is possible.
US07887446B2
Noise and vibration of a helically-toothed-belt transmission device driven under heavy load or at a high-speed rotation, are reduced. A backlash “D” is selectively enlarged in a helically-toothed-belt transmission device that transmits drive force by meshing between a helically toothed belt and a helically toothed pulley. That is, a tooth helix angle “θ” is set in a range of −0.2≦1−W·θ/Pt≦0.75, with “Pt” being a tooth pitch, “θ” a tooth helix angle, and W the width of the belt. The backlash “D” between the helically toothed belt and the helically toothed pulley is set to be 1.6%-3% of the tooth pitch “Pt”.
US07887419B2
Systems and method for providing a game achievements system where players are rewarded with game achievements based on mastering certain in-game facets of the games they play. Each game achievement may be conveyed in a profile as a badge or trophy, title, description, date, etc. Players may also accumulate points based on game achievements. A display interface may be made available such that a player may see his achievements and total points, as well as those of others.
US07887418B2
Methods and systems are disclosed herein for gate crashing computer-based games. In one embodiment, a method for playing a console-based game on a host player gaming system can include receiving a request from a host player to allow gate crashing in the game. In response to the request, information related to the game can be transmitted to a server computer. The server computer can forward the information to a remote gate crasher gaming system. A gate crasher can then view the information and submit a request to crash the game and control one of the non-player characters.
US07887415B2
A method of providing a game for a gaming device using random payout from a prize pool, the game including a plurality of possible game outcomes, is provided. The method comprises: receiving, at the gaming device, a wager amount; receiving an input to initiate game play; and qualifying the wager amount to win a random award from the prize pool for each of at least two game outcomes from the plurality of game outcomes. A predetermined average pool size for the progressive prize pool is stored. A random payout is calculated using a function that calculates the random payout using a specified minimum amount, a specified maximum amount, and a specified average value. The specified average value is independently specified between the specified minimum value and specified maximum value. The random payout calculated by the function is included within the specified minimum amount and the specified maximum amount, wherein the function is configured to calculate random payouts that average over time substantially the specified average value. The random payout is provided where when the specified average value is set at an average contribution to the progressive prize pool, an average random payout over time is substantially equal to the average contribution to the progressive prize pool in order to maintain the progressive prize pool at the predetermined average pool size.
US07887413B2
The present invention relates to a win method for use in an amusement game, and an amusement game that utilizes the win method. In each play or attempt of the game the player has the choice of trying for a major prize or vending a minor prize. If they opt for the minor prize, the minor prize is vended and the game ends. If they opt for the major prize, the game continues. If they win the major prize, a major prize is vended and the game ends. If they do not win the major prize and it is not the last attempt, the game continues. They have the option of trying for the major prize again or opting for the minor prize. On the last attempt, if the player opts for a major prize and loses, they do not win any prize and the game ends.
US07887412B2
A gaming device including at least one displayed offer provided to a player, at least one input device for enabling the player to accept or reject each displayed offer provided to the player, and a hidden offer which the game does not reveal to the player during the acceptance or rejection of each of the provided displayed offers. The game provides and awards the hidden offer to the player if the player rejects each of the displayed offers. If the player accepts one of the provided displayed offers, the game awards the accepted offer to the player.
US07887400B2
A downstream side fin group is formed by a plurality of fins. Among these fins, end fins positioned at both ends in an arranging direction are arranged near second wall portions. Each end fin has an extension portion which is bent at upstream end thereof and extends toward the corresponding second wall portion. A space is provided near each second wall portion in the ventilation passage. Each space is closed by the corresponding extension portion at a time when the corresponding end fin is arranged at a maximum inclined position at which the end fin is most away from the second wall portion, and the extension portion enters the space at a time when the end fin is arranged at a different position from the maximum inclined position.
US07887397B2
A knife sharpening bar includes a handle that carries a support bar. A flexible tube is tightly fit over the support bar. A hollow ceramic bar is then fit over the flexible tube with an inside surface of the ceramic bar tightly engaging the flexible tube so that the flexible tube provides a cushioning support between the support bar and the ceramic bar, which protects the ceramic bar from directly bearing any external impact applied to the knife sharpening bar. An internally-threaded cap engages an externally-threaded free end of the support bar and abuts against the ceramic bar to thereby secure the ceramic bar in position on the support bar. Collars or other buffering members can be positioned at opposite ends of the ceramic bar.
US07887393B2
Provided is a moving mechanism for a blast gun which can easily move a blast gun accommodated in a blasting chamber and which can easily perform other operations from the outside thereof without leaking dust. A plurality of arm members (first input arm 21, second input arm 22, first output arm 31, and second output arm 32) are interlocked to form an input arm 20 and an output arm 30, each having one pair of arm members, one arm of the two arm members is pivotally attached to the other arm so as to be rotatable around an interlocked portion serving as a fulcrum, the input arm 20 is disposed outside the blasting chamber 3, and the output arm 30 is disposed inside the blasting chamber 3. In addition, the input arm 20 and the output arm 30 are interlocked to each other by an interlocking unit 40 which penetrates a top plate of a cabinet 4, and a power transmission mechanism is provided which rotates the second arm 22 synchronously with the rotation of the input arm 20, so that a blast gun 5 fitted to the output arm 30 can be moved by operating the input arm 20.
US07887384B2
A substrate for an LED assembly can have a plurality of cups formed therein. At least one cup can be formed within another cup. The cups can be co-axial with respect to one another, for example. A machined surface of the substrate can enhance reflectivity of the LED assembly. A transparent and/or non-global solder mask can enhance reflectivity of the LED assembly. A transparent ring can enhance reflectivity of the LED assembly. By enhancing reflectivity of the LED assembly, the brightness of the LED assembly can be increased. Brighter LED assemblies can be used in applications such as flashlights, displays, and general illumination.
US07887378B2
An audio jack connector has an insulating housing. The insulating housing has an inserting hole extending from a front to a rear for receiving the audio plug connector and a plurality of recesses communicating with the inserting hole for receiving a plurality of terminals. An elastic body which is disposed in the inserting hole perpendicular to an extending direction of the inserting hole has two opposite tightening arms and a connecting portion interconnected with opposite ends of the tightening arms. A front end of the audio plug connector passes through the elastic body and is restrained by the elastic body. Two tightening arms of the elastic body are against the portions of the front end of the audio plug connector from opposite directions when the audio plug connecter is inserted into the inserting hole of the insulating housing.
US07887371B2
An electrical connector that electrically connects a first printed circuit board and a second printed circuit board is disclosed, where the electrical connector in the preferred embodiment includes: (a) an insulative housing; (b) a plurality of signal conductors, with at least a portion of each of the plurality of signal conductors disposed within the insulative housing; (c) each of the plurality of signal conductors having a first contact end, a second contact end and an intermediate portion therebetween; and (d) a passive circuit element electrically connected to the intermediate portion of each of the plurality of signal conductors, where the passive circuit element is housed in an insulative package and includes at least a capacitor or an inductor.
US07887358B2
A connector clamp, for a hard drive having a first connector for mating with an external connector, having a top clamp and a bottom clamp. The top clamp includes a longitudinal section from which two arms extend, each arm including an integrally formed hole, and a bottom face, wherein a first gasket is attached to the bottom face and contacts the external connector when mated with the first connector. The bottom clamp includes an integrally formed first set of holes to receive a first set of screws for insertion into the hard drive, an integrally formed second set of holes to receive a second set of screws for insertion into the holes of the top clamp, and a top face, wherein a second gasket is attached to the top face and contacts the external connector when mated with the first connector.
US07887357B1
A card connector includes an insulating housing, a plurality of terminals, a grounding member, and a shielding cover. The insulating housing defines a card-receiving cavity in a top surface thereof for receiving an electronic card. The terminals are received in the insulating housing for electrically connecting with the electronic card. The grounding member is assembled to a portion of one side surface of the insulating housing. The shielding cover is pivotally and slidably mounted to the insulating housing, having a cover plate and two side plates bent from two opposite sides of the cover plate. When the shielding cover slides to a locked condition, one side plate of the shielding cover is moved to electrically abut against the grounding member from an unconnected condition for shielding an EMI.
US07887353B2
An electrical disconnect has first and second female contacts mounted in a power connector housing and first and second male contacts in a load connector housing. The male contacts each have a male blade contact finger. The female contacts each have a socket for removably receiving a male blade contact finger. At the rear ends of both the male and female contacts there are integrally formed push-in connector elements for receiving a conductor or wire. The disconnect is particularly suited for use in connecting power wires to a load device in a circuit, such as a fluorescent light ballast.
US07887345B2
This disclosure describes systems and methods for a single-use oximetry sensor in which a single-use connector is used with the sensor assembly. The disclosure describes a connector which consists of a single-use male connector for use with female connector on an oximeter. The connector includes a housing enclosing one or more pins, one or more movable members, and a locking mechanism. Upon engagement of the male connector into the female connector the locking mechanism activates such that when the female connector is removed, the moveable member moves from a first position to a second position and locks into the second position. When in the second position the male connector can not engage the female connector, thereby limiting the male connector to a single use engagement.
US07887340B2
A fixing structure of a relay connector includes: a guide block fixed to a lower portion of the relay connector; a movable support shaft movable in a first direction perpendicular to a second direction which is parallel to an axial direction of the coaxial connector; lock plates provided at both ends of the movable support shaft; a fixing operating lever provided inside the guide block so as to swing around a lever support shaft and provided with a cam part; and a rail member provided with a pair of slide parts, the guide block inserted between the slide parts. When the fixing operating lever is swung to be tilted to one side, the upper and lower surfaces of the slide parts are clamped and fixed between the side parts of the lower portion of the relay connector and the lock plates. When the fixing operating lever is swung to be tilted to the other side, the relay connector can move in the second direction.
US07887339B2
A connector for balanced transmission includes a block member having input and output contact pairs formed on front and back surfaces thereof, and a relay wiring substrate having front and back surfaces with a ground layer in between, on which surfaces input contact connecting pads, output contact connecting pads, input wiring patterns, and output wiring patterns are formed. Each input contact pair includes a pair of contact parts formed on the front or back surface of the block member and a pair of lead parts connected to the input contact connecting pads formed on the front or back surface of the relay wiring substrate. Each output contact pair includes a pair of contact parts formed on the front or back surface of the block member and a pair of lead parts connected to the output contact connecting pads formed on the front or back surface of the relay wiring substrate.
US07887334B2
A board connecting connector configured to mount a mounting board on a motherboard, the board connecting connector includes a connector main body having one end fixed to the motherboard and another end including an inserting opening where the mounting board is inserted; a plurality of connector pins provided inside the inserting opening, the connector pins coming in contact with a plurality of terminals provided at an inserting side of the mounting board; and a board holding member elastically deformably standing at a side surface of the connector main body, wherein the board holding member is inserted in a position where the terminals of the mounting board come in contact with the connector pins and is engaged with an edge part of the mounting board, so that the mounting board is held in an inserting completion position.
US07887333B1
An apparatus comprises a first plate having a first plurality of conductive segments on a surface of the first plate and a second plate having a second plurality of conductive segments on a surface of the second plate. The first and second plates have an axis of rotation. The first plurality of conductive segments and the second plurality of conductive segments each have a circular shape with centers through the axis of rotation. Each of the first plurality of conductive segments and the second plurality of conductive segments has a different diameter. Portions of the first plurality of conductive segments and the second plurality of conductive segments are offset from each other along the axis of rotation. Corresponding segments in the first plurality of conductive segments and the second plurality of conductive segments conduct signals during rotation of the first plate and the second plate relative to each other.
US07887331B1
A light bulb socket adapter includes an adapter base and at least one lamp holder. The adapter base includes a base having a ring contact and a tip contact. The at least one lamp holder is oscillatingly mounted to the adapter base through an oscillating connection assembly. The oscillating connection assembly has a ball-holding mechanism mounted on an end opposite to the base of the adapter base, and at least one ball fixedly connected with the respective lamp holder and oscillatingly engaged with the ball-holding mechanism. The present invention allows the light bulb mounted thereon to irradiate in a desired direction and a bayonet-type bulb to be mounted in a conventional screw-type socket without requiring an additional socket adapter.
US07887326B2
A dental instrument shaft for a rotating instrument made of a ceramic material includes a cylindrical shaft end having a center axis and a flat driving area arranged in parallel to the center axis, wherein a groove having a cross-section shaped as a pitch circle is formed at a transition region of the driving area to the cylindrical shaft end.
US07887324B2
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an osteogenetic-orthodontic appliance, device, system, and method optimizes craniofacial homeostasis by means of a 3-D axial spring that influences the patient's genome and thereby addresses problems existing primarily within the mid-facial region, as well as the other contiguous regions. Growth and development of the craniofacial structures can be influenced by foundational (skeleto-dental) correction in concert with functional (myo-spatial) correction, according to the genome of a particular patient by means of the method and systems of the present invention.
US07887323B2
A method and apparatus for manufacturing a semiconductor device is disclosed. In particular, the application discloses a method that performs a lithography process using a material capable of increasing a depth of focus so as to prevent efficiency of the lithography process from being degraded due to high integration of a semiconductor device, and a pressure-type bake oven as an apparatus for forming a high refractive material on a semiconductor substrate, having advantages of reducing manufacturing costs of a semiconductor manufacturing process and increasing efficiency of the lithography process.
US07887310B2
A compressor (20) has an unloading slide valve (100). The valve has a valve element (102) having a range between a first condition and a second condition, the second condition being unloaded relative to the first condition. A piston (124) is in a cylinder (128) and mechanically coupled to the valve element. A control valve (40; 42) is coupled to a headspace (138) of the cylinder to selectively expose the headspace to a fluid source (144), pressure of fluid in the headspace producing a force on the piston and valve element in a direction from the second condition toward the first condition. The compressor includes means (190, 192; 210; 220) for relieving excess pressure in the headspace.
US07887305B2
A flexible tank has a volume-variable chamber formed so as to be sectioned by a flexible tube that is expanded or contracted in accordance with the amount of the contained chemical liquid, and adaptor parts attached to the flexible tube. A primary-side port open to the volume-variable chamber is open into one of the adaptor parts, and a secondary-side port open to the volume-variable chamber is open into the other adaptor part. The contact between the chemical liquid and air in the volume-variable chamber is suppressed to minimum level, thereby containing the chemical liquid without deteriorating the cleanliness of the chemical liquid, and improving discharge accuracy of the chemical liquid.
US07887303B2
An air compressor includes a compressor pump, a first air tank and a second air tank. The first air tank is in fluid communication with the output of the compressor pump and the second tank. The air compressor can be operated with the second air tank physically connected to the first air tank, or with the second air tank removed from the first air tank.
US07887298B2
A helicopter rotor assembly with vertically staggered blades is disclosed. Each blade travels in a rotational path which does not cross the rotational paths of the other blades. This arrangement reduces noise because each blade travels in a path which avoids turbulent or disturbed air from the preceding blades. In one embodiment, the blades are arranged from the lowermost blade to the uppermost blade such that each blade following the lowermost blade will be above the blade in front of it. Since each blade pushes air down to create lift, this vertically staggered arrangement allows the blades to travel through less disturbed air.
US07887288B2
A turbine blade or vane is provided. The turbine blade or vane includes an airfoil portion, a root portion arranged below the airfoil portion, a dove tail shaped securing portion arranged below the root portion have a surface including subregions that have locally different compressive residual stresses, and a convexly curved sub region arranged on the surface and adjacent to the concavely curved sub region. The concavely curved region has higher compressive residual stresses than the convexly curved region, and the level of the compressive residual stress in the concavely curved region is at least 30% of the component base material yield strength.
US07887284B2
A wind turbine has a hub mounted on a rotatable shaft with a ring concentrically mounted on the shaft. The ring is connected to drive wheels, which in turn drive generators to produce electricity. A controller is connected to control the speed of the turbine by controlling the number and force of contact between the wheels and the ring and also controlling other components such as the pitch, yaw and brakes for the turbine while monitoring the wind conditions.
US07887270B2
The invention relates to an apparatus for cutting an oval hole in the wall of a pipe. The pipe secured to a baseplate (1) of the apparatus is cut for an oval hole by means of a tool (20) having its cutter head (24) rotated about its axis while it is driven along a circular path in relation to a carriage (2) of the apparatus. The carriage (2) is mounted on the baseplate (1) by way of linear runners (3). Adapted for rotation along with a drive pulley (4) of the tool (20) is a cogged wheel (10), which through the transmission of a cam lever (11) is adapted to drive a shaft (12) having its rotational motion transmitted on the one hand to drive a gear (22) and on the other hand to work the carriage (2) back and forth in relation to the baseplate (1), a round-trip displacement (2xa) being equal to a difference between the major axis and the minor axis of a desired ellipse.
US07887265B2
A system for attaching a cutting member to a cutter body includes a pin, a clamping bolt and an adjustment bolt. The pin has a longitudinal axis and at least a first attachment bore and a second attachment bore. The clamping bolt has a clamping section which is formed to releasably secure the cutting member to the cutter body and has a first attachment section which is formed to be releasably secured in the first attachment bore of the pin. The system may have an adjustment bolt that has an adjustment section which is formed to adjust the position of the cutting member relative to the cutter body and has a second attachment section which is formed to be releasably secured in the second attachment bore of the pin.
US07887263B2
A cable guide mechanism configured to be releasably attached to a shaft, which includes a body portion, an indent or groove and a protrusion, characterised in that said indent or groove is located on the opposite side of the body portion to the protrusion, and is dimensioned and configured to releasably retain an inside edge of a first distal end of a loop which is attached to a terminal end of a cable; the protrusion is tapered with its widest section directly opposite the indent or groove; the linear distance between the bottom of the indent or groove and the widest section of the protrusion is sufficiently close to the inside length of the loop that in use the first distal end of the loop cannot climb out of the indent or groove; said shaft is configured to freely rotate co-axially inside the cable guide mechanism.
US07887255B2
A flow limiting inlet structure is designed to collect water or other fluids in a pool above grade, and to provide improved capture of sediments and surface pollutants such as oils and greases in the pool, while regulating the flow of water or other fluids during discharge into an outlet pipe. In a conventional storm water detention basin a vertical cylindrical discharge structure can be used to regulate the basin water depth and discharge flow rate of storm water out of the detention basin, in conjunction with the use of a specially designed baffle system that prevents the release of any greases or oils floating on the water surface while capturing any floating trash or debris.
US07887243B2
A miniature mechanical transfer (MT) optical coupler (“MMTOC”) for optically connecting a first plurality of optical fibers with at least one other plurality of optical fibers. The MMTOC may comprise a beam splitting element, a plurality of collimating lenses, and a plurality of alignment elements. The MMTOC may optically couple a first plurality of fibers disposed in a plurality of ferrules of a first MT connector with a second plurality of fibers disposed in a plurality of ferrules of a second MT connector and a third plurality of fibers disposed in a plurality of ferrules of a third MT connector. The beam splitting element may allow a portion of each beam of light from the first plurality of fibers to pass through to the second plurality of fibers and simultaneously reflect another portion of each beam of light from the first plurality of fibers to the third plurality of fibers.
US07887242B2
Device for coupling the ends of carrier tubes used for guiding and protecting a cable. The device includes axially juxtaposed first and second tubular bodies, each having a first end for connection to one of the tube ends and a second end for connecting the body portions and which coaxially receives a flexible tubular sealing member. The bodies are connected such that they are relatively movable between a first position in which the body bodies are close together and the sealing member is in a rest state, and a second position in which the bodies are spaced apart and in which surfaces thereof contact the sealing member to dispose it into an energized state wherein it is urged radially inward and has an inner diameter that is no greater than the outside diameter of the cable.
US07887223B2
The subject of the present invention is a lamp-ballast-system (1), especially a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD-) lamp-ballast-system for generating and/or emitting a radiation of ultraviolet (UV-)-light comprising: a lamp (2) having means for electrical contacting and a ballast (3) having a housing (4) accommodating at least a high-voltage part and a lamp support, connectable to and supplying the DBD-lamp (2) at least with electricity, whereby the electrical connection (5) between the DBD-lamp (2) and the ballast (3) is arranged cable-free.
US07887222B2
A vehicle display with a housing having a gauge port, an interior wall around the gauge port, and an appliqué port extending from an exterior side of the vehicle display and intersecting the gauge port. A light source provides light into the gauge port and directs the light outwardly from a front side of the housing. An appliqué has a first locking feature. The appliqué port at least partially receives the appliqué between the front side of the housing and the light source. The light from the light source illuminates a portion of the appliqué. The first locking features releasably engages a second locking feature.
US07887221B2
One face of a substrate of a diffuser with a light condensing function is disposed with a plurality of prism rods; at least one inclined face of parts of prism rods is disposed with a rough diffusion face; the diffusion face may be positioned on any position of the inclined face of the prism rod; the diffusion face is disposed with a plurality of irregularly arranged raised and indented stripes perpendicular, not perpendicular or parallel to a crest line of the prism rod; chromatid dispersion can be reduced and stripes of the prism rods can be atomized effectively by utilizing the diffusion face to eliminate the occurrence of moiré fringes and elevate the yield factor.
US07887211B2
A glass breaking cap for flashlights, batons and the like is provided. The glass breaking cap has a cylindrical sidewall and a conical top portion. The conical top portion has an apex having an included angle between 86° and 136°. More preferably, the apex has an included angle of 106° to 126° with a preferred included angle of about 116°. Preferably, the glass breaking cap has male or female threads for replacing threaded end caps found on traditional flashlights and batons.
US07887209B2
A light source device includes at least one dot-like light source, a substrate where the dot-like light source is arranged, and a reflection member which is arrange to be in contact with a light-emitting surface of the dot-like light source and cover the light-emitting surface. The reflection member further includes an opening to pass therethrough a beam emitted from the dot-like light source.
US07887206B2
An optical includes an optical body including a plurality of side faces where one of the plurality of side faces defines a light entrance face onto which a blue light is incident. A light exit face is connected to at least one of the side faces, and a yellow fluorescent layer is disposed on the light entrance face and is configured to convert the blue light into a white light.
US07887196B2
A method for operating a projection system (1) is described, wherein a brightness level (B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6) in an image (IM) is represented by the total length of a number of light switch-on phases within a particular image cycle (VT). A high pressure discharge lamp (2) of the projection system (1) is operated via a lamp driver with an essentially square-wave alternating current (IL) SO that an overshoot sequence (0), which occurs in the alternating current (IL) after a current zero crossing during operation of the high pressure discharge lamp (2), has a frequency so high that for each possible brightness level at least one full period (P) of the overshoot sequence (0) lies essentially within a light switch-on or switch-off phase (ts) following the zero crossing. A projection system (1) and a lamp driver (10) for a high pressure discharge lamp (2) in such a projection system (1) are also described.
US07887194B2
Light emitted from a light source passes through a stellar base plate, a fixed aperture, and a wide-angled projection lens via a condenser lens and projects a starry sky on a screen. The stellar base plate is a light-shielding disk having a number of through holes which correspond to positions and brightness of actual stars, is supported by an inner ring of a ball bearing having the center at a position corresponding to the axis of rotation so as to be capable of rotating about the axis of rotation, and is driven by a motor via a belt. The centers of the projection lens, a window of the fixed aperture, the condenser lens, and the light source are all arranged on the optical axis, and the centers of the stellar base plate, the pulley and the ball bearing correspond to the axis of rotation.
US07887193B2
An illuminating device includes a discharge lamp, a condenser lens, an integrator lens, a polarization conversion system, an electromagnetic wave shielding plate, and an electromagnetic wave shielding wall. A light given out from each lens in the light-incident-side fly's eye lens becomes two light fluxes via respective polarizing beam splitters and the two light fluxes pass through two lenses in the light-exit-side fly's eye lens. The electromagnetic shielding plate has an aperture on an optical axis of each lens in the light-exit-side fly's eye lens. The electromagnetic wave shielding plate is grounded through the electromagnetic wave shielding wall.
US07887191B2
The system contains a plurality of laser projectors. An image of a marking is projected in a synchronized form by the plurality of laser projectors. A computer network provides communication with the laser projectors. A central workstation communicates with the laser projectors through the computer network. The central workstation coordinates the image projected by the laser projectors.
US07887190B2
The system contains a purge chamber. A substantially optically transparent wall is formed along the purge chamber. A laser projector is mounted within the purge chamber. The laser projector is positioned to project a laser beam through the substantially optically transparent wall. The system may be used to project images onto objects to assist in manufacturing processes.
US07887183B2
A method for determining a progressive ophthalmic lens for a given user for whom a near vision power addition has been prescribed includes the following steps: measuring the user's downward and the vertical horopter on a near-vision target point; measuring the user's near-vision head elevation and/or eye elevation; determining a coefficient of the user's near-vision vertical head participation (Ptvvp); determining a user-specific progressive length (LP) defined by the relationship LP=H (1−Ptvyp), the progressive length being defined as the downward look angle between the mounting cross and the meridian point for which the power achieves the power addition; determining the lens by optimizing in optical computation in worn conditions, using as target a power variation along the meridian with a progressive length equal to said user-specific progressive length.
US07887181B1
The eyeglass structure mainly contains a frame and a viewing lens. At each interface between a front opening and the two temple members of the frame, a positioning slot with a protruding block therewithin is provided. On the other hand, two positioning pieces, each with a notch, are extended from the two ends of the viewing lens. To install the viewing lens, the positioning pieces are threaded into the positioning slots and the protruding blocks are embedded into the notches to secure the viewing lens. To detach the viewing lens, the positioning pieces are pulled to break out the locking of the protruding blocks and pushed to escape the confinement of positioning slots. The installation and detachment are therefore could be easily and conveniently conducted.
US07887173B2
A solid printer includes a solid ink transportation system that uses multiple forces to direct solid ink to a melting assembly within the printer. The solid ink transportation system includes a housing having an opening through which solid ink is inserted, a first transportation path coupled at one end to the housing opening and configured to operate as a gravity feed to move the solid ink from the housing opening along the first transportation path, at least one other transportation path coupled at one end to the other end of the first transportation path, the solid ink being moved along the at least one other transportation path primarily by a mechanically generated force, and a melting device coupled to an exit of the at least one other transportation path to receive the solid ink moved along the at least one other transportation path.
US07887171B2
Provided is a printer cradle for receiving an ink cartridge having a rotor element. The cradle includes a drive roller and an electrical motor having a drive shaft terminating in a worm gear that meshes with a cog affixed to the drive roller for driving said roller. The cradle also includes a flipper gear assembly that is operatively engaged with the drive roller to be driven by the drive roller between an engaged position, in which the flipper gear assembly engages the rotor element and a disengaged position in which the flipper gear assembly is disengaged from the rotor element. Further included is a controller arrangement having a controller board housing a print engine controller configured to control the motor to actuate or disengage the rotor element.
US07887170B2
A pressure-regulating chamber for maintaining ink contained in the chamber at a predetermined first level relative to a printhead. The chamber comprises: an inlet port for connection to an ink reservoir via an ink supply line; an outlet port for connection to an ink inlet of a printhead via an upstream ink line; an air vent open to atmosphere; and a float valve for maintaining the predetermined first level of ink by controlling a flow of ink into the inlet port. The float valve is biased towards a closed position by a positive ink pressure at the inlet port.
US07887167B2
An inkjet printing apparatus comprises at least one printhead which comprises at least one ink chamber and a plurality of nozzles, at least one ink container remote from the printhead, an ink delivery system comprising a source of gas under pressure operable to supply ink from said remote ink container to said ink chamber on the printhead, a priming device arranged to prime at least one printhead and comprising a connecting assembly to connect the source of gas under pressure to the printhead to be primed, and a controller to control the flow of gas through said connecting assembly to provide upon demand gas under pressure to the printhead in order to cause a flow of ink from the ink chamber through the nozzles to prime the printhead.
US07887166B2
Embodiments provide an ink reservoir system. The ink reservoir system includes a housing configured to hold ink and comprising a first opening and a second opening. The ink reservoir system further includes a fluid connector that traverses the first opening and communicates ink from inside the housing to a refilling system. The ink reservoir system further includes an interconnection region comprising a needle, where the needle traverses the second opening and is configured to mate with a septum cap on an ink bottle. When the ink bottle is placed within the second opening the needle punctures the septum of the septum cap and allows the ink to flow from the bottle into the interior of the housing.
US07887161B2
An inkjet printhead with an array of nozzle assemblies (10) formed on a supporting substrate (16). Each nozzle has a chamber (34) for holding ink, each nozzle chamber being partially defined by the nozzle that defines a nozzle opening (24). The nozzle (22) of each assembly (10) is displaceable relative to the substrate (16) for effecting ink ejection on demand. The nozzles (10) each have a respective actuator unit (28) connected to the nozzle (22) and arranged externally of the chamber (34) for controlling displacement of the nozzle (22).
US07887159B2
The present invention provides a liquid ejecting head which inhibits the possible generation of satellites and possible inappropriate ejection during liquid ejection, enabling printing with improved image quality and reliability. Thus, ejection openings in the liquid ejecting head each selectively have projections or a circular shape depending on the characteristics of a liquid to be ejected.
US07887158B2
A droplet ejecting device has a droplet ejecting head, a rotating member, a recovery unit, and a negative pressure generating unit. The rotating member is disposed so as to oppose a nozzle surface of the droplet ejecting head, and is a conveying body that conveys a recording medium. The recovery unit has a suction hole provided at a region of the rotating member on which the recording medium is not loaded, and recovers, from the suction hole, liquid that becomes a mist at a time when the droplets are ejected from the nozzles. The negative pressure generating unit generates negative pressure at the recovery unit.
US07887155B2
An image recording apparatus includes at least: a phase locked loop for generating an ink jet timing control signal determining drive timing when the nozzle array drive unit is controlled to perform the recording process, controlling a frequency of the ink jet timing control signal, and allowing the drive timing to be synchronous with a conveyance distance of the record medium in the conveyance information; and a phase locked loop setting unit for setting information determining a lock range of the phase locked loop in the phase locked loop according to the job information as a condition for determining the drive timing. The image recording apparatus performs the recording process by controlling the nozzle array drive unit with the drive timing determined by the ink jet timing control signal generated by the phase locked loop.
US07887154B2
An inkjet image forming apparatus and a method of defective nozzle compensation in the inkjet image forming apparatus. The method includes detection of an occurrence and a position of the defective nozzle in a nozzle unit, when the defective nozzle is detected, analyzing image information on image data which are to be printed at a compensated position which is a position printed with the defective nozzle and image data which are to be printed at positions adjacent to the compensated position, and exchanging the image data which are to be printed at the compensated position for image data which are to be printed at one of the adjacent positions according to the analyzed image information and performing printing. Missing dots caused by the defective nozzle are compensated by exchanging image data and performing printing. Accordingly, since the image data are exchanged and printed, it is possible to prevent deterioration in image quality such as a white band which can be easily perceived by a user.
US07887142B2
In one aspect of the invention, a machine for degrading a natural and/or man-made formation has picks connected to a drum of the machine and at least one accelerometer mounted to the machine adapted to measure forces acting on the machine. Electronic equipment is in communication with the at least one accelerometer and the electronic equipment has a processor adapted to determine a change in the formation based off of input from the at least one accelerometer. The electronic equipment also is in communication with a mechanism adapted to control, at least in part, a location of the drum.
US07887134B2
A seat control mechanism for a seat frame has an interlock device that includes a lock plate slidably coupled to a seatback for movement between a locked and a released position. A stop bracket is coupled to a seat bottom and has a first end engageable with the lock plate in the locked position when the seatback is in a full-forward position and a second end engageable with the lock plate in the locked position when the seat back is in a fold-flat position. An actuator moves the lock plate from the locked to the released position to release the lock plate and permit movement of the seatback between the full-forward position and the fold-flat position. The lock plate is biased toward the locked position to engage the ends of the stop bracket to lock the seat back in either the full-forward or the fold-flat position after releasing the actuator.
US07887128B2
A child restraint includes an infant carrier and a base for supporting the infant carrier. The base is configure to be tethered to a passenger seat in a vehicle. The base can be adjusted to tilt the infant carrier relative to the passenger seat.
US07887127B1
A chair for supporting a couple. The chair has first and second backrests mounted to the seat of the chair for movement from a substantially upright first position to a tilted second position at an angle with respect to the first position. A couple sits facing each other in the chair, one member of the couple being seated in the lap of the other, each member of the couple being respectively supported by their respective backrest, allowing the couple to rock back and forth while seated in the chair.
US07887115B2
An overhead console for a vehicle includes a substrate formed of a substantially clear material configured to provide a conduit for light. The substrate has a first surface and an opposite second surface. The overhead console also includes a first film layer coupled to the first surface of the substrate. The first film layer has a first portion simulating a first component of the overhead console and a second portion simulating a second component of the overhead console. The overhead console further includes a second film layer coupled to the second surface of the substrate. The second film layer is configured to cooperate with the first film layer to affect the appearance of at least one of the first component and second component.
US07887096B2
A pretensioner for restraining an occupant with a seat belt by withdrawing a seat belt buckle upon occurrence of an impact on a vehicle. The pretensioner includes a wire. One end portion of the wire is connected to the seat belt buckle and the other end portion of the wire is connected to a piston. The pretensioner further includes a cylinder slidably accommodating the piston and a gas generator supplying gas into the cylinder. The pretentioner further includes a guiding member, having a bent passage portion, that bends the wire toward the direction of the cylinder. On an inner wall surface of the bent passage portion of the guiding member, convex portions are formed in a direction orthogonal to the sliding direction of the wire. The convex portions prevent the wire from being pushed in along the direction of the cylinder.
US07887095B2
A belt tensioner for a safety belt system includes a pinion (16) rotatably mounted in a housing (12), a drive unit (26), and a toothed rack (18) whose toothing (20) is directly engaged or enters into direct engagement with the pinion (16) and which can be driven by means of the drive unit (26). The toothed rack (18) has the shape of a circular arc and moves on a circular path (K) upon activation of the drive unit (26).
US07887090B2
An ignition delay module (10) for use in an airbag inflator (100, 200) has an ignition delay module housing (11). The ignition delay module (10) separates the inflator (100, 200) into two chambers (40, 60). A pyrotechnic tablet (2) is positioned inside the ignition delay module housing (11). Upon activation of the inflator (100, 200) the ignition delay module (10) prevents a gas generant (62) in a second chamber (60) of the inflator (100, 200) from igniting until at least a portion of the pyrotechnic tablet (2) is burnt. Preferably a burn inhibitor layer (3) is affixed or otherwise applied to a surface of the pyrotechnic tablet (2). The ignition delay module housing (11) has a first end with a plurality of openings (7) and a second end with openings (20) blocked by the pyrotechnic tablet (2) at the burn inhibitor layer (3) such that upon an ignition of a gas generant (42) in the first inflator chamber (40), the burn inhibitor layer (3) is overcome and the pyrotechnic tablet (2) is ignited and burns to expose the openings (20) in the second end of the ignition delay module housing (11) causing a time delay before igniting a gas generant (62) in the second chamber (60). The ignition delay module (10) is usable in either a pyrotechnic inflator (100) or a hybrid inflator (200).
US07887089B2
Arrangement and method for controlling an occupant protection system in a vehicle which protects an occupant of a vehicular compartment during a crash involving the vehicle includes a first sensor system for obtaining information about the occupant, a second sensor system for determining a position of the occupant or a part thereof which enables a determination of the position of the occupant relative to the occupant protection system, and a processor coupled to the first and second sensor systems for controlling deployment of the occupant protection system based on the information about the occupant obtained by the first sensor system and the position of the occupant determined by the second sensor system. The first sensor system may include one or more optical imaging devices which obtain images of an area of the compartment occupied by the occupant, the information about the occupant being obtained by analysis of the images.
US07887087B2
An integrated air bag support structure that functions to dissipate excessive energy from a door panel during air bag deployment includes a support base configured to surround a door support panel. An air bag chute tube extends downward from the support base and contains a plurality of skirt walls. The door support panel separated from the support base by a gap on all four sides. A hinge element extends between one of the skirt walls of the air bag chute tube and one edge of the door support panel, and includes a plurality of pivoting elements and an arm extension to absorb energy during deployment.
US07887086B2
An air bag module (50) comprising: a curtain air bag (20) having an inflatable portion and a mounting portion, the mounting portion or tab (30) including opposing first and second mounting sides or surfaces; a mounting bracket or clip (100) for the inflatable curtain air bag, comprising first and second plates (110, 120), each plate engagable with a respective first or second mounting side or surface (104, 106), the first plate having a first opening (160) and the second plate having a second opening (170); the first plate about the first opening, including a plurality of bendable first tabs (164a-d), each first tab deformable through the second opening to provide a crimp contact between the first plate (110) and the second plate (120) thereby trapping the mounting portion or tab (30) of the air bag between the first and second plates.
US07887083B2
A method and apparatus for providing a gliding board binding, such as a snowboard binding. The binding may include an adjustment indicator that allows for determination of a longitudinal position of the base relative to a gliding board, heel-to-toe position of the base relative to a gliding board and/or an angular position of the base relative to a gliding board when the base is secured to the gliding board. The adjustment indicator may be included with a footbed that is removable from a binding base, e.g., that includes a foot engagement member to secure a rider's foot to the binding and board. A removable footbed may include a toe portion that is adjustable in position relative to a heel portion of the footbed. A gliding board may include a channel for mounting a binding that is arranged in the board core so that no portion of the board core is located on top or bottom sides of the channel, and instead so the top and bottom reinforcement layers are located above and below the channel.
US07887081B2
The invention relates to a combination of ski boots of various sizes and skis with a fitted binding, comprising a toe jaw and a heel jaw, the relative separation of which may be altered and fixed relative to the ski by means of a guide device arranged on the ski. The ski boots belong to at least two ski boot types (1, 1′, 1″), which differ in the length of the sole (a, b, c), each of which are suitable for the fitting of inner boots (3a to 3d, 3′a to 3′d, 3″a to 3″d) in at least two boot sizes. The skis comprise binding jaws, arranged to be adjustable such that the relative separation thereof may be matched to the differing lengths of sole, whereby markings on the types of ski boot and markings on the guide device of the binding permit an unambiguous matching of the sole length to the corresponding jaw separation.
US07887076B2
A skateboard-like personal vehicle comprises a platform, a pair of steerable front wheels controlled by an upright steering lever movable left or right about a longitudinal pivot axis by one hand of the rider, a pair of rear wheels, one of which is driven by a reciprocable foot pedal, and an upright post which can be gripped by the rider's other hand.
US07887072B2
A disconnectable link may include a first link member having a generally tubular portion, a first ball joint disposed on the first link member and adapted to engage a first suspension member; a second link member slidably receivable within the first link member; a second ball joint disposed on the second link member and adapted to engage a second suspension member; a lock shaft engaged with the second link member; and a lock element disposed within an aperture in the second link member. Movement of the lock shaft into a first position may cause the lock element to engage the first link member to prevent relative axial movement between the first and second link members, and movement of the lock shaft into a second position may cause the lock element to disengage the first link member to allow relative axial movement between the first and second link members.
US07887061B2
A metal face seal assembly for sealing between machine components includes a first subassembly and a second subassembly rotatable relative to the first subassembly. Compressible seals positioned between inner and outer seal members of the subassemblies provide a non-axial sealing load, whereas at least one metallic biaser provides an axial face load to bias inner seal members of each subassembly together at a rotatable interface.
US07887057B1
A hiker board game system for efficiently providing a challenging and fast paced game in which players may follow alternate paths around the board during game play. The hiker board game system generally includes a game board including at least one pathway having a plurality of spaces, a plurality of tokens movable along the spaces, a chance element to determine a number of spaces for the tokens to move, a plurality of checkpoints positioned along the spaces and a plurality of progress cards each sequencing the checkpoints in a specific order, wherein the specific order is different for each of the progress cards. Each game player is assigned a token and a unique progress card to layout the specific order that the plurality of checkpoints are to be reached by each game player. A carrying case for the game board is also described.
US07887056B2
Puzzle formed by a plurality of cubes. Puzzle formed by a plurality of cubes, wherein each face (3) of each cube shows a fragment of an image, and which is formed by a quantity of cubes whose square root is a whole number. The cubes may be arranged three-dimensionally forming a bigger cube in such a way that each of the faces of the bigger cube shows an image formed by the fragments of images of each of the seen faces (3) of each of the cubes. Each of the cubes can have reversible connecting means for connecting the cube with cubes adjacent thereto preferably by means of movable magnets. The puzzle can be used as a flags construction game.
US07887051B2
A catch tray for stacking sheets discharged from an apparatus that includes a first sheet-stacking area and a second sheet-stacking area. The tray further includes a first stopper regulation part disposed, within the second sheet-stacking area, on a downstream side of the sheet discharging direction that regulates edges of discharged sheets of a largest size allowed to be stacked on the catch tray and a second stopper regulation part in the first sheet-stacking area that regulates edges of the discharged sheets of a size smaller than the largest size and elastically deforms in the sheet discharging direction when a sheet of the largest size is discharged so as to allow the first stopper regulation part to regulate an edge of the sheet of the largest size.
US07887049B2
A sheet brake system for braking printed sheets includes a plurality of brake elements each circulating about at least one respective geometric revolution axis, and a common drive roll for driving the brake elements. The drive roll circulates about a geometric roll axis and is connected in drive terms to each brake element through a frictional contact of the drive roll. The roll axis is disposed offset eccentrically relative to the at least one revolution axis of each brake element. The brake elements can, for example, be brake bands. A sheet delivery having the sheet brake system and a printing press having the sheet delivery, are also provided.
US07887040B2
A sheet deceleration apparatus includes a pair of rotatable rollers, being rotatable about first and second axes, the rollers positioned on opposite sides of the travel path. At least one of the rollers is moveable relative to the other to nip the sheet between the rollers to reduce the travel speed of the sheet. A vacuum conveyor is further provided along the travel path subsequent the pair of rollers to control delivery of the sheet to a stacking hopper. A third rotatable roller, or similar apparatus, may be included in some embodiments, for pushing the sheet of material away from the vacuum conveyor at the appropriate time.
US07887038B2
A compact sheet material feeding device with a small height is provided. The device includes a lower sheet material stacking unit, an upper sheet material stacking unit disposed above and movable relative to the lower sheet material stacking unit, a feeding mechanism swingable between a first position relatively near to the lower sheet material stacking unit and a second position away from the lower sheet material stacking unit, a holding member configured to hold the feeding mechanism at the second position, and a pressing plate configured to move sheet material stacked in the upper sheet material stacking unit toward the feeding mechanism so that the sheet material is pressed against the feeding mechanism.
US07887037B2
Provided is a shift transport device for transporting a sheet to a sheet transport direction upstream side of a sheet process tray and for shifting the sheet. The shift transport device offsets the sheet and the sheets are stacked on a sheet process tray. Then, the sheets stacked on the sheet process tray in a state of being offset are aligned by an aligning member.
US07887023B2
A fluid-transfer coupling device includes a cylindrical housing (1), a cylindrical slider (25), which contains a valve sleeve (15) accommodating a valve (16) to be opened by pressure and which can slide in the cylindrical housing and plug supporting means (60), which supports a plug (70) on condition of being drawn up to an advanced end in the valve sleeve by the movement of the slider. With this constitution, even when using a coupling device having a relatively-large diameter, it is possible to supply fluid stably. Further the plug supporting means is arranged in front of the forward end of the slider. Additionally, the plug supporting means is provided with an improper connection preventing mechanism (68, 69a to 69d, 77) for preventing other plugs, except for a specified plug from being connected.
US07887018B2
A novel adaptive mounting device that effectively mounts and secures objects to nonplanar surfaces, and in particular effectively mounts and secures objects in a quick and efficient manner to complex contours of different automotive vehicle dashboard and other interior vehicle surfaces having differing coverings of differing textures. By example and without limitation, this novel adaptive mounting device includes a substantially flexible container forming a vacuum chamber containing and substantially filled with a substantially granular substance. A mounting structure having a frame supporting a presentation structure is joined to the bladder with at least a coupler or other presentation structure external of the bladder. A substantially air impermeable seal is formed between the bladder and a portion of the frame, and at least a partial vacuum is formed within the bladder.A method for manufacturing the novel adaptive mounting device is also provided.
US07887017B2
Provided is a decorative item adapted to be suspended from a dwelling closure, including a hanger bracket that has an upper hook portion for placement over a top of the dwelling closure, a lower support portion, and an elongate suspension arm extending therebetween. A decoration is supported by the lower support portion and a self-contained power supply is mounted to the upper hook portion for providing power to the decoration.
US07887015B2
An improved mounting system used to mount an audio/visual device, such as a flat panel display, to a desktop or other substantially horizontal mounting surface. According to various embodiments, a surface mounting system comprises a support assembly which mates with one or more collars positioned above and below the surface to which the mounting system is secured. The collars secure the rest of the mounting system to the desktop, and the collars may also secure other components which serve to prevent the support assembly from rotating in an undesirable manner. Only a single hole needs to be made in the desktop or other surface to which the system is mounted, while the number of components that are needed to attach the mounting system to the surface in a secure manner can be minimized. No locking agent is also need to properly and sufficiently secure the surface mounting system to the desktop.
US07887014B2
Embodiments of a stand are provided with continuous adjustability within a range of travel. In one embodiment, a stand includes a movement mechanism adapted to allow a tray to move along a range of travel relative to a stand base. The movement mechanism is in some embodiments further adapted to position the tray at an infinite number of locations along the range of travel.
US07887009B2
Methods and systems for attaching aircraft wings to fuselages are disclosed herein. An aircraft configured in accordance with an embodiment of the invention includes a fuselage and a wing. The wing includes a right wing portion extending outwardly from a right side portion of the fuselage and a left wing portion extending outwardly from a left side portion of the fuselage. In this embodiment, the right wing portion is fixedly attached to the left wing portion by a wing center section extending through at least a portion of the fuselage. The aircraft further includes a first pivotable link structurally attaching the wing center section to the right side portion of the fuselage, and a second pivotable link structurally attaching the wing center section to the left side portion of the fuselage.
US07887008B2
A stowage compartment system for use in an interior area. A support structure is supported from a structural subassembly. At least one compartment is rotatably supported from the support structure. An electrically powered actuator is used to rotate the compartment between open and closed positions. A sensor senses an amperage being drawn by the actuator while the actuator is rotating the compartment. A controller is responsive to the sensor and controls the actuator to interrupt rotational movement of the compartment upon detecting an obstruction.
US07886993B2
An injection valve for injecting fuel comprises a valve housing (1) inside of which a drive unit (15) controls the movement of a valve needle (5) that is pretensioned by a spring (11). The injection valve also comprises a main chamber (27), which is provided inside the valve housing, is filled with fuel and accommodates the valve needle (5), and comprises a hydraulic bearing for the drive unit (15). The hydraulic bearing has a hydraulic chamber (29) that is connected to the main chamber (27), whereby fuel serves as the operating substance of the hydraulic bearing.
US07886988B2
A method of conserving energy during a heating event wherein a coolant is heated in a cooling system is disclosed. The method includes establishing a first set point temperature for a first point in the cooling system and establishing a second set point temperature lower than the first set point temperature for a second point in the cooling system. Normally, the coolant is maintained at the second set point temperature at the second set point in the cooling system. During the heating event, the second set point temperature is raised to substantially match the first set point temperature to reduce necessary heating of the coolant at the first point.
US07886986B2
Control systems for recovery wheels, ventilation systems with recovery devices, buildings having ventilation, and methods of controlling recovery wheels and controlling or modifying ventilation systems. A parameter of ventilation systems or recovery devices, such as the speed of a recovery wheel, may be controlled as a function of pressure, differential pressure, flow rate, or fan speed, for example, to provide appropriate purge flow to maintain purge effectiveness and limit the carry-over of contaminants from a return/exhaust airstream to an outside/supply airstream, for instance, in a variable air-volume system. A purge angle may be set at a minimum position commensurate with a maximum flow rate and recovery-wheel speed may be reduced at lower flows to maintain purge effectiveness. In some embodiments, temperature and humidity are measured, and wheel speed is also controlled as a function of these measurements. Systems may utilize sensors, input devices, digital controllers, variable-speed drives, and alarms.
US07886984B2
The present invention provides a method of utilizing an air conditioner to control a thermal comfort level of an environment, wherein the air conditioner includes a plurality of environment factor adjusting devices. The method of the present invention reduces energy consumption of the air conditioner when utilizing the air conditioner to improve the thermal comfort level of an environment.
US07886981B2
An information processing system includes a magnetic-field generation apparatus for generating a magnetic field; and an information processing apparatus for performing wireless communication with an electronic device. The magnetic-field generation apparatus includes a generation section configured to generate the magnetic field, the magnetic-flux density of the magnetic field changing with time. The information processing apparatus includes an antenna for causing an induced voltage to be generated from the magnetic field and for causing an induced voltage to be generated from a magnetic field from a reader/writer; a supply section configured to supply electrical power to each section of the information processing apparatus; a verification section configured to verify whether or not the electronic device in a communicable state is an authorized device; and an output section configured to output, to another device, output information for allowing the other device connected to the information processing apparatus to operate.
US07886979B2
Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise a method, which can comprise obtaining an image of a barcode. The image can be obtained via a barcode reader. The barcode reader can comprise a camera. The camera can define a camera axis. The barcode reader can comprise a lighting module that comprises set of lighting elements that emit light.
US07886975B2
Processing efficiency of acquired data is improved by restricting saving or acquiring of unnecessary data. A data acquisition device 110 includes a communication unit 214 for performing wireless communication of data with a data accumulation device 100 in which data is accumulated, a type registration unit 216 wherein data types of necessary data are registered beforehand, a type comparison unit 218 for comparing the data type of data received via the wireless communication unit with data types registered in the type registration unit, a data extracting unit 220 for extracting only data of which the data type matches, and a data holding unit 222 for holding the extracted data.
US07886966B1
Systems and methods are provided for managing sales tax information. The information may be generated, for example, in connection with transactions involving financial accounts, such as a credit card account. The sales tax information may be received electronically from, for example, a merchant or a point of sale device. A determination may be made whether there is any missing sales tax information. If there is missing information a request may be generated and sent to a source having the information. The source may receive the request, retrieve the desired information, and transmit it to the requesting entity. The sales tax information may be stored and later retrieved for presentation to a user, such as the account holder. The account holder may use the information in completing a tax return.
US07886962B2
A portable device may include far field communication logic to receive identity information to establish a transaction between the portable device and a transaction device, to receive user information related to a user of the portable device, and to send updated user information, completed transaction information, or updated other information to a server for storage in an account related to the user. The portable device may include near field communication logic to send the identity information to the transaction device, to receive transaction information during a transaction, to send payment information to the transaction device, and to receive the completed transaction information. The portable device may include processing logic to identify the identity information, to display the transaction information on a display device, to identify the payment information based on a payment request related to the transaction device, and to store the completed transaction information in the memory or identify the completed transaction information on behalf of the far field communication logic.
US07886959B2
A security monitoring system provides for the secure transport of a bulk foodstuff container. The system includes an electromechanical locking mechanism allowing access by only authorized persons, a positional locator for determining the geographical position of the bulk foodstuff transport container, and a controller associated with the transport container. The controller controls operation of the electromechanical locking mechanism, stores data received from the electromechanical locking mechanism and the positional locator, and communicates with a remote data processor in near real time. A handheld user interface device is configured to control operation of the controller, to process and store data received from the controller, and to communicate with the remote data processor. Unique identifiers are provided for the bulk foodstuff transport container, the transport vehicle, any storage container from which or into which a bulk foodstuff is transferred, and any authorized operator of the security monitoring system.
US07886958B2
A blank of sheet material for forming a container including automatically locking bottom panels is provided. The blank includes a pair of end panels, a pair of side panels and at least one corner panel that are interconnected. The corner panel extends between an adjacent end panel and side panel. The blank includes bottom end panels extending from the end panels and bottom side panels extending from the side panels. A first coupling tab is integral with a bottom end panel, and a second coupling tab is integral with a bottom side panel. The first coupling tab attaches to a bottom side panel, and the second coupling tab attaches to a bottom end panel. The coupling tabs upwardly direct the bottom panels when the container is moved to a flat position and downwardly direct the bottom panels when the container is moved from the flat position to an erected position.
US07886953B2
A linear surgical stapler adapted for applying a plurality of surgical fasteners to body tissue includes an anvil structure and a cartridge housing containing a plurality of surgical fasteners and a knife. The cartridge housing and anvil structure are relatively movable between a first spaced apart position and a second position in close approximation with one another. A firing mechanism is associated with the cartridge housing for ejecting the surgical fasteners from the cartridge housing to be driven against the anvil structure. The firing mechanism includes a slide bar at its distal end adjacent the cartridge housing. A lockout mechanism interacts with the cartridge housing for selective activation and deactivation of the firing mechanism by disconnecting the distal end of the slide bar from a component housed within the cartridge housing.
US07886948B2
A hitch carrier device for transporting cargo and particularly, but not exclusively, large game carcasses on a hitch of a road vehicle is described. The carrier device comprises a support structure having a vertical support frame. A hitch connection is provided at a lower end of the vertical support frame. A horizontal harness support frame is secured to an upper end portion of the vertical support frame. A harness of flexible material is detachably secured to the horizontal harness support frame for supporting a cargo to be transported at an elevated position above the hitch behind the road vehicle.
US07886939B2
A fluid dispenser head for mounting on a fluid reservoir (R), the dispenser head comprising: a dispenser member (1), such as a pump, for taking the fluid contained in said reservoir, said dispenser member comprising a body (10) and an actuator rod (11) that is axially displaceable in said body; a pusher (7) that is axially displaceable so as to actuate the displacement of the actuator rod (11); a dispenser orifice (60) via which the fluid is dispensed each time the dispenser member (1) is actuated, said orifice (60) being mounted in stationary manner relative to the body (10) and the reservoir (R); and a flexible connection hose (52) that connects the actuator rod (11) to the dispenser orifice (60), said hose including a first connection end (521) that is secured to the actuator rod, and a second connection end (522) that is secured to the dispenser orifice, the dispenser head being characterized in that the first end (521) extends substantially parallel to the actuator rod.
US07886929B2
A device for storing and dispensing endless machining belts for a robotic installation is disclosed. The device includes a support rotating about a vertical axis and having radial arms. Each arm is equipped with means for locating a machining belt, and means for controlling stepwise rotation of the rotating support, in order to bring each arm in turn to a position where the belt may be fitted onto a robot arm.
US07886926B2
A transport container system includes a stackable crate having a bottom element and four side wall elements which are of a dimensionally and pressure stable structure. Each of the side wall elements has a foldable attachment element connected to it. When folded up, the attachment elements of the four side wall elements will form an attachment which will increase the volumetric capacity of the crates. The attachment elements will each bear on an upper side of the respective side wall element and be retained in the folded-up position by guides provided on the side wall elements. When folded down, the respective attachment elements can be integrated into the respective side wall element in such a manner that the attachment elements at least will not protrude substantially over the thickness of the side wall elements.
US07886923B2
A container stopper, and a manufacturing method therefor, capable of reliably preventing adverse influences of various smells entering from outside the container and absorption and adsorption of the flavor of the contents, as well as preventing adverse influences of a core such as cork. The container stopper comprising a core formed of an elastic material and having a liquid-contact surface and an outer peripheral surface continuous with the liquid-contact surface coated with a skin made of a synthetic resin, and the manufacturing method therefor. In the container stopper, the skin is made of a polyester resin or a synthetic resin having a polyester resin as a main component thereof, and the skin is bonded to the liquid-contact surface and the outer peripheral surface of the core through a bonding layer.
US07886916B2
There is provided an expandable modular display that is generally comprised of display modules that may be wall mounted, utilized as a desktop or countertop display, or vertically stacked with a plurality of like display modules in a display stand. The display stand is disposed to be connected by hand utilizing connecting apertures and pins. The display stand may be expanded horizontally using the connecting apertures and pins to receive additional display modules. The display is disposed to mount display modules vertically in a back to back position.
US07886910B2
A front opening wafer carrier formed principally of plastic and comprising an enclosure portion (20) and a door (24) has a path to ground with respect to the wafers (22), the path to ground effectuated by the door (24). The base “ground” may be provided at the machine interface upon which the carrier sits, or through the robotic arm that grasps, operates and moves the door (24).
US07886909B2
Medication packaging is designed with one or more of a container, cap, or externally applied ring which fits over the container having a polygonal peripheral side surface. Edges of the polygonal peripheral side surface assure that the packaging lays flat on a flat surface or is attached flat to a metal surface by magnetic forces. Indicia on one or more of the container, cap or externally applied ring is positioned when the user places the packaging on a flat surface such that at a predetermined location the previous dose or last dose is viewable by the user. Each indicia is associated with one edge of the polygonal peripheral side surface. A disk or sleeve member can be used to occlude indicia that is unrelated to the previous or next dose, and the disk or sleeve member can be operated by gravitational or magnetic forces without manipulation by the user.
US07886904B1
Packages of compressed blowing wool are provided. The packages include a body of compressed blowing wool. The compression of the blowing wool is in a radially inward direction with respect to an axis extending from one end of the body of compressed blowing wool to another end of the body of compressed blowing wool. A bag encapsulates the body of compressed blowing wool. The bag has a plurality of bag sections and opposing ends. The bag sections have contrasting visual characteristics configured to focus the attention of a user toward one of the bag. One of the bag sections includes indicia configured to assist in opening one end of the bag.
US07886903B1
A protective shell for a portable computer includes an upper shell and a lower shell connected via hinges. The computer can be placed into the shell by slipping a first hinged section of the computer underneath a first clip of the upper shell and then bending back a second clip, made of a resilient material, of the lower shell to allow a second hinged section of the computer to slip into the lower shell. The hinges are positioned on the protective shell so that they will be concentric or approximately concentric with a hinge of the portable computer when the protective shell encases the portable computer. A mounting plate may be removably attached to the shell to allow the shell to be connected to various mounting arm assemblies.
US07886899B2
A closure device with a fluid chamber containing an additive. The additive can be introduced and mixed into a liquid on the container by the closure device. The closure device includes a cap member having a fluid chamber and a housing having a plug member. The cap member is provided with a primary engagement member which engages with a corresponding primary engagement member provided on the housing to allow the cap member to be lifted relative to the housing from a closed position in which the plug member closes an aperture in the fluid chamber to an open position in which the plug member is at least partially withdrawn from the aperture, thereby allowing the additive to pass from the fluid chamber to the liquid in the bottle. The closure device enables mixing of the additive and liquid in the bottle without opening the closure.
US07886889B2
The present invention concerns a method and an apparatus for accepting bank notes.In accepting bank notes by means of an apparatus for accepting bank notes it is assumed that the bank notes are inserted in an input pocket, the bank notes are singled by means of a singling device and transported by means of a transportation device, in order to check the individual bank notes by means of a sensor device, and, in dependence on the checking, store them in at least one storage container or return them in the case that it is impossible to check them, wherein returned bank notes can be inserted in the input pocket again, and an instruction to accept and store the returned bank notes is inputted, whereupon these are accepted and stored in the at least one storage container.
US07886887B2
An embodiment provides a friction clutch apparatus that includes a disk assembly disk. The disk assembly has a disk portion selectively coupled to a first member, and a hub portion selectively coupled to a second member. The hub portion is generally axially aligned with the disk portion. The disk portion is rotatable relative to the hub portion. The disk assembly selectively transmits a torque between the first member and the second member. The disk assembly also includes an energy storage member selectively damping the relative rotation between the disk portion and the hub portion. The damping includes relative rotation between the disk portion and the hub portion. The energy storage member is preloaded, thereby requiring a preselected amount of torque to be applied by one of the disk portion and the hub portion to the other of the disk portion and the hub portion prior to the relative rotation.
US07886878B2
A tension member termination device optimized for terminating flexible flat tension members, the device including a socket with a compression portion and a bulbous portion and a compression plate on each side of the compression portion fastenable by fasteners extending through all of these feature. The device provides a pathway for the tension member through the device and upon torquing the fasteners reliably secures the tension member while avoiding deleterious pressure and stress therein.The invention also provides a safety clamp for optional use with the invention.
US07886865B2
To provide an electric power steering apparatus in which it is possible to reduce a size of the entire structure of a control unit while sufficiently showing a heat radiation effect of heat generating members. The electric power steering apparatus includes a steering column 3 having inserted therein a steering shaft 2 to which steering torque is transmitted, a reduction gear box 4 coupled to the steering shaft 2, and an electric motor 5 that transmits a steering assisting force to the steering shaft 2 via a reduction mechanism in the reduction gear box. In the reduction gear box 4, a motor mounting section 17 for mounting the electric motor 5 is formed at an end face in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the steering shaft 2 and a control-unit mounting section 20 for mounting a control unit 19 for controlling to drive the electric motor 5 is formed near the motor mounting section 17.
US07886864B2
A vehicle with a compound steering system has the ability to reorient both a forward and aft steering axis with respect to a chassis. The compound steering system is controlled in a manner in which one of a forward steering actuator and an aft steering actuator will reach its mechanical limit before the other, when a steering command from an operator input results in an oversteer condition. An oversteer feedback system provides an indication to the operator that the vehicle is in a oversteer condition, such as by increasing the rotational resistance level of the steering wheel to a medium level when in an oversteer condition.
US07886859B2
An embodiment of a high-performance car having a car body; at least one member for cooling; at least one cooling duct extending between an inlet opening and an outlet opening, both formed through the car body, to conduct outside cooling air through the member for cooling; and at least one blow duct which terminates at a blow opening, formed through the car body, to direct an air jet which interacts with the airflow about the car body to alter the streamline configuration of the car; the blow duct originates at an initial portion of the cooling duct, upstream from the member for cooling, and has a deflecting device which can be activated to divert at least part of the air in the cooling duct to the blow duct.
US07886848B1
A method and apparatus for disposing of drill cuttings 500 from an oil and/or gas well drilling platform 510, comprising (a) transporting the drill cuttings 520 to a cuttings collection area 530 on the platform 510; (b) providing a barge 10, the barge 10 having at least one storage area 30, a cover 100 operably connected to the at least one storage area 30, and covering the at least one storage area 30; (c) placing the cover 100 in a first open state so that cuttings 500 can be placed in the at least one storage area 30; (d) transporting the drill cuttings 500 from the cuttings collection area 530 to the at least one storage area of the barge 10; (e) placing the cover 100 in a closed state so that the cuttings 520 in the storage area 30 of the barge 10 are contained; (f) transporting the barge 10 from the drilling platform 510 to a collection site 540; (g) placing the cover 100 in a second open state so that the cuttings 520 in the storage area 30 can be removed; and (h) removing the cuttings 520 from the storage area 30.
US07886842B2
A wellbore servicing apparatus, comprising a first mandrel movable longitudinally along a central axis and rotatable about the central axis, an orienting member configured to selectively interfere with movement of the first mandrel along the central axis, and a second mandrel connected to the first mandrel and configured to rotate about the central axis when the first mandrel rotates about the central axis. A method of orienting a wellbore servicing tool, comprising connecting an orienting tool to the wellbore servicing tool, identifying a predetermined direction, increasing a pressure within the orienting tool, rotating a portion of the orienting tool in response to the increase in pressure within the orienting tool, and rotating the wellbore servicing tool in response to the rotating of the portion of the orienting tool.
US07886841B2
A torque overload clutch for an electrical power tool, such as a percussion hammer drill, is provided. The clutch is accommodated in a cavity in a gear cog. Spring washers are used to urge ball bearings into indentations formed in the base of the cavity. The ball bearings are accommodated in cavities formed in a drive plate which engages with the spindle drive of the power tool. The spring washers are held in position by a circlip or a threaded plate. The threaded plate arrangement provides means for compressing the spring washers with a consistent force across a manufactured batch. A method of manufacturing the clutch is also disclosed.
US07886840B2
A motor arrangement for a pneumatic tool includes a motor cylinder defining a motor chamber, an inlet passage adapted to receive a flow of motive fluid, forward and reverse passages communicating with the motor chamber, a throttle port, and at least one exhaust port. A motor rotor rotates in a forward direction in response to motive fluid flowing into the motor chamber from the forward passage and in a reverse direction in response to motive fluid flowing into the motor chamber from the reverse passage. A valve actuates to selectively place one of the forward and reverse passages in communication with the inlet passage for the provision of motive fluid from the inlet passage to the selected one of the forward and reverse passages. A throttle mechanism including a throttle actuator extends through the throttle port and is actuable to control the flow of motive fluid through the inlet passage.
US07886839B2
The hand-held power tool has a vibration-damped main handle. The hand-held power tool has a device for fastening the main handle to a main element configured so that when the main element moves out of a stationary position toward the main handle the main element swivels around at least one swivel axis so that it is guided along a trajectory that extends with a slant of at least 10° relative to a flat surface, which extends through a longitudinal tool axis and which has a surface normal oriented in a normal direction perpendicular to the longitudinal tool axis. As a result vibrations with a movement component perpendicular to the longitudinal tool axis are damped as well as vibrations that induce motion of the main element in the direction of the longitudinal tool axis toward the main handle.
US07886835B2
A kickover tool is for placing and extracting a valve in a mandrel having a tool body extending in a longitudinal direction and having a hydraulic piston chamber therein. A hydraulic piston is located inside the hydraulic piston chamber. A kickover arm portion is mechanically connected to the hydraulic piston, the kickover arm portion comprising a kickover arm having a tool portion. The kickover arm has a non-kicked-over position where the kickover arm is substantially coaxial with the longitudinal direction and a kicked-over position where the kickover arm is substantially non-coaxial with the longitudinal direction. The kickover arm moves to the kicked-over position upon extension of the hydraulic piston.
US07886833B2
A low-pressure wellhead system with tubular heads and mandrels secured independently using threaded unions. A casing mandrel is secured to a wellhead by a first threaded union. Likewise, a tubing head spool is secured to the casing mandrel using a threaded union. A tubing hanger is also secured to the tubing head spool using a threaded union. An adapter flange may also be secured to the tubing hanger by a threaded union. Because this low-pressure wellhead is faster and easier to assemble and provides full bore access, there is less rig downtime, thus rendering the well completion process faster and more economical.
US07886828B1
A floating vessel for supporting top tension drilling and production risers having a hull and an operation deck disposed on top of the hull. A tensioner assembly for moveably carrying a conductor that communicates from a wellhead to a piece of well access equipment. The well access equipment is connected to the floating vessel. The tensioner assembly is supported by the floating vessel.
US07886819B2
A locking mechanism for securing a jumper tube to a shunt tube in a well screen assembly for use in gravel packing is disclosed. The jumper tube features a telescoping connector that extends to engage the shunt tube and a locking mechanism that extends the connector the proper distance and then locks the connector into place by engaging lugs that are connected to the jumper tube. Also disclosed is an apparatus and method for securing a connector tube to a well screen assembly using a receiver that is attached to the well screen assembly and is configured to receive a connector tube and secure the connector tube into place with screws. The receiver can be mounted to the well screen assembly via the shunt tube, a top/middle-bottom ring assembly, directly to the base pipe.
US07886806B2
A method for removing a casted part, for use in a die casting machine comprises the steps of setting a position in which a chuck performs an operation to grasp a casted part attached to a movable mold as a position from which the casted part is to be removed, and setting a relative positional relationship between a handle portion which is a part of the casted part attached to the movable mold to be grasped by the chuck and a movable die plate. The method further comprises the step of advancing the chuck between the movable mold and the fixed mold and positioning the chuck at the position from which the casted part is to be removed, in parallel with the movement of the movable die plate. Additionally, the method comprises the steps of stopping the movable die plate when the handle portion of the casted part attached to the movable mold reaches the position from which the casted part is to be removed, grasping the handle portion of the casted part by using the chuck, and removing the casted part from the movable mold.
US07886797B2
The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for automatically closing envelopes. The apparatus contains a transport means for moving the envelopes in a transport direction, and a means for automatically folding back and closing an envelope flap. To enable accurate and reliable closing even of tightly filled envelopes even in a continuous operation duty, the means for automatically folding back and closing the envelope flap comprises several rotors which are rotatable in the transport direction of the envelopes and are movable, by means of a drive, in a manner which is transverse to the transport direction of the envelopes.
US07886796B2
A chip bonding tool, related apparatus and a method thereof. The chip bonding tool includes a pressing block, through which a laser beam passes, for pressing a semiconductor chip; and a projection disposed under the pressing block, through which the laser beam passes, onto which the semiconductor chip is sucked, which spaces the pressing block from the semiconductor chip.
US07886794B2
A laminating arrangement includes a laminating roller and a radiating element to radiate energy therefrom. A reflector has a main body and is configured so that energy radiated from the radiating element is reflected and concentrated to exit the reflector in a direction towards the laminating roller. A thermal connector has first and second ends, the first end being in thermal contact with the main body of the reflector. When the radiating element is switched on, and the temperature of the second end of the thermal connector and the temperature of the surface of the laminating roller are approximately equal and below an optimal laminating temperature, the temperature of the second end of the thermal connector rises at substantially the same rate as the surface of the laminating roller. A thermometer is positioned to measure the temperature of the thermal connector at or near the second end.
US07886792B2
The present invention provides a sheet laminating apparatus with a jamming-detection mechanism. A sensing element is disposed beside the roller for detecting whether a plastic film is adhered onto the roller during the laminating operation. When the jamming phenomenon occurs, the roller is reversely rotated to eject the jammed sheet article.
US07886787B1
A cover for the grip area of golf clubs to keep them dry and protected from the elements is herein disclosed, preferably comprising a neoprene covering in the shape of a tube with the approximate dimensions of twelve (12) to twenty (20) inches long and a diameter of two (2) inches. A first end of the tube is sealed, while a second end is furnished with a flexible membrane which seals it against the club shaft. The closed end is provided with a hook to allow the cover to be hung along with a club, thereby providing a means for the cover to be placed over the grip end of a golf club in much the same manner as a sock. This not only extends the life of the club and grip, but provides the golfer with enhanced performance due to the decreased risk of slippage during play, particularly during wet conditions.
US07886783B2
A system for the delivery of a liquid anesthetic agent to a sump of an anesthetic vaporizer includes a filler assembly rotatable about a pivot point. The filler assembly further includes a sump valve that controls fluid communication between the filler assembly and the sump. An adapter is coupled with the filler spout and includes a sealing surface that forms a seal against fluid communication between the anesthetic bottle and the adapter. The filler assembly, the filler spout, and the adapter are rotated about the pivot point along the rail. The rotation of the filler assembly, the filler spout, and the adapter about the pivot point opens the sump valve and the seal between the adapter and the anesthetic bottle.
US07886780B2
A reservoir for an anesthetic vaporizer is disclosed herein. The reservoir includes an open interior and a high-pressure channel in communication with the open interior. The high-pressure channel is configured to transfer an anesthetic agent from a storage container into the open interior when a pressure level within the storage container exceeds a pressure level within the open interior. The reservoir also includes a low-pressure channel in communication with the open interior. The low-pressure channel is configured to transfer the anesthetic agent from the storage container into the open interior when the pressure level within the storage container is less than or approximately equal to the pressure level within the open interior. The low-pressure channel and the high-pressure channel are configured to prevent the open interior from being overfilled with the anesthetic agent under conditions wherein the pressure level within the storage container exceeds the pressure level within the open interior.
US07886778B2
A cartridge for storing a flowable substance in a bulk container is disclosed. The cartridge includes a shell having a breakable score line and configured to sit inside the bulk container and a bag positioned within the shell and configured to be filled with the flowable substance. The bag has a port for introducing the flowable substance into the bag and a drain spout in fluid communication with the bag, allowing the flowable substance to be drained from the bag after filling. The breakable score line is configured to separate due to force exerted on the shell as the bag is filled, allowing the bag to expand inside the bulk container. A method of filling a bulk container with a flowable substance using the cartridge is also disclosed.
US07886758B2
The corner brace of a framework of a quickly erectable canopy shelter is connected between portions of a perimeter truss assembly connected to a leg of the framework of the canopy shelter. The corner brace includes a corner brace mounting pin on a first link member of an outer truss of the perimeter truss assembly, and a support truss tube member pivotally and rotatably connected at one end to an outer truss on one side of the leg. The other end of the support truss tube member is removably connected to an outer truss on the other side of the leg. The support truss tube member of the corner brace may include a support truss clip that fits to a link member of the framework. The framework may also include a canopy framework support assembly for supporting a canopy.
US07886754B2
The invention relate to an ultrasonic cleaning apparatus (1) for treating textile products comprising a body (2, 3) including an opening (7), wherein at least a portion of the body (2) is formed as a gripping element, an ultrasonic transducer (4) receiving ultrasonic wave signals generated by an ultrasonic signal generator, and an ultrasonic wave emission surface (6) coupled to the ultrasonic transducer. The ultrasonic cleaning apparatus is characterized by a control device (16) adapted to detect the ultrasonic wave emission surface (6) being in contact or in close proximity to an object and to stop the operation of the ultrasonic transducer (4) upon detection of the ultrasonic wave emission surface not being in contact or in close proximity to the object.
US07886735B2
The invention relates to a drive mechanism for a down draft vent system comprising a vertically directed, retractable open framework (4), which can be moved between an extended position and a lowered position by means of a drive motor (9), comprising at least two switches (11, 12) for switching off the drive motor (9) and at least one actuating element (18, 37) for actuating the switch (11, 12). In this arrangement at least one switch (11, 12) is actuated by means of the at least one actuating element (18, 37) depending on a force (FW) acting externally on the open framework. In addition to an end switch-off of the drive motor, this invention provides a safety function as a result of a resistive load switch-off which is effective both in the event of a resistance from below during retraction and also in the event of a resistance from above during extension of the open framework.
US07886734B2
The present invention discloses an infrared remote controlling warm stove for outdoor warming which includes head, hollow upright post and base. The head comprises air mixing chamber, infrared hood, reflex hat, baffle, burner assembly and burner controlling device that are fixed and connected in turn on the upper end of the hollow upright post. The burner assembly consists of burner, parent burner, nozzle, motorized valve assembly, gas intake pipe and pressure reducing valve assembly. The burner controlling device comprises program-controlled circuit board, and battery holder, solenoid valve and motor of the motorized valve assembly electrically connected to the program-controlled circuit board, thermocouple, oxygen-lacking detector and ignition needle at the parent burner, the flame detector beside the fire hole of burner, infrared receiver board with buttons and overturn switch set in the lateral part of the air mixing chamber. When the stove operates, the gas cylinder is emplaced, the circuit is turned on and batteries are inserted into the battery holder. In such case, the burner can be ignited through the parent fire to realize the burning of the remote controlling stove.
US07886730B2
An apparatus for detecting the position of the paintball of a paintball gun includes an induction plate responsive to electrostatic capacity. The induction plate is positioned at a corresponding side of the ball-falling tube within the firing area of the gun barrel, and the induction plate consists of a conductive terminal piece and equivalent electrostatic capacity. An insulated body is interposed between the terminal piece and the gun barrel. Besides, an electrostatic capacity detection circuit is electrically coupled to the induction plate for detecting the change of the electrostatic capacity of the induction plate. Moreover, the signal of the change of the electrostatic capacity is transmitted to the paintball-firing circuit for a reliable detection if the paintball accurately reaches the firing area such that the push tube may be actuated in accordance with this information. In this way, an accurate detection is ensured without being disturbed by other light sources. Moreover, an undesired firing action is avoided when the paintball is still not fed in position. In addition, it is not required to clean up the firing area. Furthermore, a low power consumption is achieved.
US07886721B2
In a two-piece fuel reservoir (7), one of the components has a container wall (8) and the other component has a container bottom (9). The components are sealed from each other and can also be configured as a single piece with other components, such as for example a pump bracket (5), thereby allowing for the fuel reservoir (7) to be assembled from standardized components.
US07886720B2
In a method for operating a fuel pump in order to guide fuel from the fuel container of an internal combustion engine, the electric energy, which is in the form of pulses, is periodically guided to the fuel pump and the duration of the pulses is controlled according to the fuel required by the internal combustion engine. The frequency of the pulses is controlled in such a manner that, in the event of low pump rate of the fuel pump, the frequency is controlled to a higher level than in the even of a high pump rate.
US07886713B2
A lower intake manifold assembly includes a lower housing and a runner insert fitted into the lower housing. The lower housing may be made of metal and the runner insert may advantageously be made of a synthetic resin material. The runner insert provides a sealing surface between the lower housing and the cylinder head of an internal combustion engine. The runner insert also supports a charge motion control valve flap assembly that advantageously may include a shaft and synthetic resin flaps over-molded onto the shaft.
US07886706B2
An internal combustion engine including an electrical starting system which integrates several components into a single assembly for easier manufacture and operation of the engine. For example, a safety switch and key are integrated with the electric motor starting system. The starting system includes a starter motor having a drive member in selective driving relationship with the engine crankshaft, and also includes a key and a switch assembled to the starter motor. The switch includes a power connector and a key interface, and the key and key interface are together moveable between a first or “insert/remove” position in which the key is selectively engageable and disengageable with the key interface, a second or “run” position in which the key is engaged with the key interface and the power connector is not in electrical communication with the starter motor, and a third or “start” position in which the key is engaged with the key interface and the power connector is in electrical communication with the starter motor.
US07886695B2
A modular bird feeder system which is particularly adapted for an individual to assemble and maintain. The system includes at least one bird feeder and means to catch bird seed located below the bird feeders. The bird feeders are mounted onto a central pole. An animal deterrent device is positioned below the bird feeders to prevent squirrels and the like from reaching the bird feeders. The animal deterrent device is also mounted onto the central pole. A ballast member is positioned below the ground and the central pole is mounted through the center of the ballast member. A stake can be secured to the lower end of the central pole and assists in securing the bird feeder system to the ground.
US07886689B2
To prevent occurrence of arcing caused by difference of thermal expansion between the electrode and the solid dielectric in a plasma processing apparatus.The bottom part of a casing 20 of processing units 10L, 10R is open, this opening part is closed with a solid dielectric plate 50, and an electrode 30 is received in the casing 20 such that the electrode 30 is free in the longitudinal direction. The solid dielectric plate 50 has such strength as capable of supporting the dead weight of the electrode 30 solely by itself. The electrode 30 is placed on the upper surface of the solid dielectric plate 50 is a non-fixed state such that the dead weight of the electrode 30 is almost totally applied to the solid dielectric plate 50.
US07886684B2
A gantry tower spraying system with a cartridge/receptacle assembly includes a gantry and a spray assembly coupled to the gantry to allow for translational movement of the spray assembly along the gantry. The spray assembly includes a receptacle for receiving a cartridge containing a cosmetic liquid for skin treatment, and a spray nozzle coupled to the receptacle for receiving the cosmetic liquid and dispensing the cosmetic liquid in a spray. The receptacle has an inner surface of a size and shape to generally conform to a size and shape of a portion of an outer surface of the cartridge. The spraying system can further be provided with an oscillation mechanism adapted to cause oscillation of the spray nozzle. The bottle can be provided with a keying mechanism for engaging a corresponding key structure of the receptacle.
US07886675B2
Disclosed is a furnace adapted for burning solid materials, including biomass fuels. The furnace comprises an igniter having a heating element carried by a ceramic core and disposed within a ceramic cover tube for directing air at fuel disposed within the furnace for the purpose of igniting the fuel. Also disclosed is an igniter having a heating element carried by a ceramic core and disposed within a ceramic cover tube for directing air at fuel disposed within the furnace for the purpose of igniting the fuel.
US07886663B2
Vibrations of a cylinder, which is a part of a web-processing machine, and particularly a printing machine, are dampened. A functional correlation is determined for a course of a force of a channel passage through a nip point defined by the cylinder and a second cylinder. The functional correlation is pre-defined up to a scaling factor determining the height as a time course for an actuator force time course and is stored in a control or a regulating device. The vibration, or an amplitude of the vibration is measured during the operation of at least part of the cylinder by the use of a sensor. A maximum vibration amplitude on the roll body of the cylinder is then calculated from the measuring value. The actuators are controlled by the control or regulating device according to the pre-defined actuator force time course.
US07886660B1
A trash receptacle compaction system for compacting trash, a trash receptacle of the system having upstanding front, side and back panels, a closed bottom, and a lid. The system further includes a drivable satellite vehicle having a power unit which is operably connectable between the front panel and a compaction ram of the trash receptacle. The separate compaction ram is positioned within the receptacle for slidable movement between the forwardly front panel and the rearwardly rear panel, the compaction ram being driven by the power unit to compact the trash within the receptacle after the satellite vehicle is driven to and properly aligned with the trash receptacle. These trash compaction cycles minimize the frequency of trash receptacle emptying required.
US07886657B2
A cellularly-integrated food process line (30) is a combination of several diverse cells (32, 24, 36, 38), which are diverse because each performs non-identical operations. Such cells (32, 24, 36, 38) are configured to perform at least one sub-process as marinade, form, cook, dust coat, batter coat, crumb coat, fry, sear, grill mark or freeze, as well as any two or several of those sub-processes in combination. The cells (32, 24, 36, 38) are also configured to stack vertically in interchangeable combinations, as desired, to form a tower. Changing the combination or sequence of such cells (32, 24, 36, 38) correspondingly changes the end result on food product (41) processed by such combination. Each cell has its own conveying apparatus (56, 60, 68) for motivating food product (41) along a pathway, which may collectively be driven by a common drive system (40, 50).
US07886651B2
In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a blast-resistant panel may include a layer of a pre-cured elastomeric material having a predetermined thickness, a body portion, and a plurality of flanges, each of the plurality of flanges having a substantially equal width and depending away from a same side and at approximately equivalent right angles to the body portion. The blast-resistant panel may also include a plurality of fastener elements for securing the pre-cured elastomeric material layer to a surface of a structure through the plurality of flanges of pre-cured elastomeric material layer.
US07886645B2
A system for cutting blocks of cheese or other food product into chunks includes conveyors for moving the blocks along an automated, continuous, in-line processing path. A block cutter cuts the blocks longitudinally and or vertically to provide one or more stacks of slabs which are destacked by a vacuum transfer apparatus. A transverse cutter cuts the individual slabs to create chunks of cheese or other food product. The conveyors include a stack conveyor located in the processing path for conveying successive stacks of slabs from the block cutter to the product destacking apparatus in succession, and a slab conveyor located in the processing path for conveying successive slabs from the product destacking apparatus to the transverse cutter. A trim cutting module includes a rotating mechanism that rotates a block during the trim operation, allowing trim to drop to a trim disposal conveyance.
US07886641B2
A push block including a heel that has a stored position and an operative position. Accordingly, when the push block is disposed face down on a flat workpiece and the heel is in its stored position, the push block can effectively perform the functions of a flat face push block. When, on the other hand, the heel is disposed in its operative position and the push block is disposed so that the heel can engage an end edge of the workpiece, the push block can effectively perform the functions of a fixed heel push block.
US07886636B1
The present invention may be used for rotating a polygonal object. A first wrench member may have a handle with two ends with a fixed jaw attached at a first end and with a cavity formed in the fixed jaw and first end. A second wrench member may be a movable jaw with a curved jaw attached to a ratcheting element. The ratcheting element may be slidably positioned in the cavity to position the curved jaw opposite the fixed jaw. The second wrench member may be constrained by the cavity and a cavity insert member to slide in said cavity about the center of an arc. The second wrench member may be spring biased by an elastic compression element to move toward the fixed jaw. A gripping surface of the curved jaw may be structured relative to the center of the arc to cause the curved jaw to be urged toward the fixed jaw when rotating the fixed jaw against an intervening polygonal object, and to cause the movable jaw to ratchet open when the handle is rotated in the opposite direction.
US07886635B2
A bolt or nut tightening device having an outer shaft and an inner shaft rotatable in directions opposite to each other, the outer shaft having a reaction receiver projecting therefrom sideways and provided with a tightening torque measuring unit, the tightening torque measuring unit comprising a strain sensor, a circuit board, an indicator, a battery, a case for accommodating the circuit board, the indicator and the battery, and a mount tubular member fitted around and rotatable with the outer shaft, the case being attached to an outer peripheral portion of the mount tubular member and projecting toward the same direction as the reaction receiver, the case being so sized as to be hidden by a contour of the reaction receiver and being so positioned as to be hidden behind the reaction receiver when seen from the forward end side of the engaging portion.
US07886630B2
When a column 4 reaches a tilting ascent end, the lower end 732 of a nut 73 abuts on the buffering segment 83 of a buffer 82. Thus, while the buffering segment 83 of the buffer 82 is elastically deformed, the nut 73 stops with no impact. Accordingly, the inertia when the nut 73 stops is restrained and the tightening torque of the nut 73 when the nut 73 stops is also restrained. For this reason, when an electric motor 61 is rotationally driven in a reverse direction, a feeding screw shaft 71 rotates in the reverse direction with the normal rotation torque of the electric motor 61. Thus, the nut 73 is caused to ascend in the axial direction along the screw segment of the feeding screw shaft 71 so that the column 4 can be tiltingly moved downward.
US07886622B2
A method for processing a detection signal of a vibratory inertial force sensor is disclosed. This method improves detection accuracy of the vibratory inertial force sensor. A detection circuit of the vibratory inertial force sensor removes harmonic component from signals synchronously wave-detected, and amplifies the resultant signals, and then smoothes the amplified signals. A vibratory inertial force sensor adopting this method is also disclosed.
US07886612B2
The invention relates to coated optical fibers comprising soft primary coatings and to such primary coatings for protecting glass optical fibers having a sufficient high resistance against cavitation. In particular, the primary coatings have a cavitation strength at which a tenth cavitation appears (σ10cav) of at least about 1.0 MPa as measured at a deformation rate of 0.20% min−1 and of at least about 1.4 times their storage modulus at 23° C. The coating preferably shows strain hardening in a relative Mooney plot, preferably has a strain energy release rate Go of about 20 J/m2 or more, and preferably has a low volumetric thermal expansion coefficient. The invention furthermore provides a method and apparatus for measuring the cavitation strength of a primary coating.
US07886610B2
An apparatus for measuring the differential pressure of fluid in filter. The apparatus comprises a housing defining a pressure chamber. A differential pressure gauge divides the pressure chamber into first and second fluid chambers. The differential pressure gauge is arranged to measure a differential pressure between fluid in the first chamber and fluid in the second chamber. The differential pressure gauge has a variable output.
US07886605B2
A method and apparatus for ultrasonic inspection. The ultrasonic inspection apparatus comprises ultrasonic transducers, a body, a set of engagement members and a set of ports. The ultrasonic transducers are at a position generally adjacent to a surface of an object. The body has a contact surface capable of contacting the surface and is capable of holding the set of ultrasonic transducers. The engagement members are connected to the body for engagement with the surface. The engagement members are flexibly bendable and are conformed to contours across the surface to form a coupling region within the body. The set of ports deliver a coupling material to the coupling region. The engagement members, when in contact with the surface of the object, cause a seal to retain an amount of the coupling material within the coupling region sufficient to couple the ultrasonic transducers to the surface.
US07886598B2
The method and apparatus in one embodiment may have: providing a two-dimensional axisymmetric oscillator having a beam containing two principal elastic axes and two principal damping axes; driving the beam with drive components to oscillate across corners of the beam at approximately 45 degrees to sides of the beam, the drive components having forcer components that provide drive and pickoff components that provide feedback; and oscillating the beam in a normal mode and a reverse mode.
US07886597B2
A dynamic amount sensor has a detecting circuit that detects a change in an electrostatic capacitance of each of electrostatic capacitance elements comprised of a movable electrode and a fixed electrode. A switching circuit switches the detecting circuit to first and second connecting states that detect changes in the electrostatic capacitance of the electrostatic capacitance elements in accordance with a change in an attitude of the movable electrode in corresponding first and second detecting axes directions. In the first and second connecting states, the detecting circuit includes circuits formed by connecting the electrostatic capacitance elements in series which change electrostatic capacitances symmetrically along with inclination of the movable electrode in the corresponding first and second detecting axes directions. A carrier wave applying circuit applies carrier waves whose phases are inverted from each other by 180° to the electrostatic capacitance elements which are connected in series in the first and second connecting states of the detecting circuit.
US07886596B2
An inertial sensor, comprises a detection element detecting an amount of a physical quantity in a detection axis direction, a plurality of support members having flexibility and supporting nearly a center of the detection element, and a package substrate housing the detection element and the plurality of support members. In a case when an X-axis is defined as an extending direction of the plurality of support members, a Y-axis is perpendicular to the X-axis in a plane including the detection element, and a Z-axis is perpendicular to the X-axis and the Y-axis, one of load components in a direction of the Y-axis of the detection member applied to the plurality of support members is nearly equal to other among the plurality of support members, and one of load components in a direction of the Z-axis is nearly equal to the other among the plurality of support members.
US07886585B2
A diagnostic system for an internal combustion engine includes an intake air temperature (IAT) determination module, a reference temperature determination module, and an adaptive learning module. The IAT determination modules determines a first IAT using an IAT sensor at a first time and determines a second IAT using the IAT sensor at a second time. The reference temperature determination module determines a first frequency based on a first voltage output of a MAF sensor at the first time and determines a second frequency based on a second voltage output of the MAF sensor at the second time. The adaptive learning module determines a temperature-frequency relationship based on the first IAT, the second IAT, the first frequency and the second frequency.
US07886583B2
A low voltage signal amplifying apparatus includes a probe device, an actuator providing relative motion between the probe device and the sample, and a transducer that generates a voltage signal indicative of a property of at least one of the probe device, the sample, and the actuator. A differential voltage to current converter receives a differential voltage signal from the transducer and generates a differential current signal to provide a balanced, differential, low impedance current mode amplified signal that can be readily carried over a signal transmission device.
US07886582B2
An interconnector coupled to a permeate water collection tube, establishing first and second groups of membranes, has open and closed ends, and orifices arranged circumferentially and located at a peripheral area in an intermediate section of the interconnector. The orifices establish a connection with an axial chamber provided in the interconnector and oriented towards the open end. The open end has a coupling nut connected to a pressure tube extending along the inside of the water collection tube section located between the interconnector and a feed inlet end. The pressure tube extends outside the pressure container through a closing cap of the end of the pressure container and ends in a T-shaped connection including a sensor for measuring the pressure of the non-treated reject water corresponding to the first group of membranes located between the feed inlet end and an assembly point of the interconnector.
US07886575B2
Acoustic sensing utilizing a bridge structure coupled about a portion of at least two sides of said bridge to a base substrate, wherein said bridge includes a piezoelectric section and has at least one active acoustic region proximate said bridge. A sensing material is disposed on at least a portion of at least one surface of the bridge, wherein the bridge produces stress effects measurable by an acoustic wave device located in the active acoustic region. According to one embodiment, the stress effects are measured by an acoustic wave device to sense a target matter. As target molecules accumulate on a sensing film affixed to at least a portion of the bridge, stress is produced in the bridge inducing a frequency change measured by an acoustic wave device.
US07886574B2
A projection device is configured by connecting a projectile supporting part to a spring supporting frame with multiple coil springs. The projectile supporting part is pulled while deforming the coil springs; a projectile is projected by accelerating the projectile supporting part, supporting the projectile, with restoring forces of the coil springs; and the projectile is collided with a test piece supported by the test piece supporting base. Thereby, it is possible to check a state of collision of the projectile with the test piece or how the test piece is damaged thereby. Since the projectile is projected with the restoring forces of the deformed coil springs, the collision test apparatus is simple and compact in structure, low-cost, and easy-to-handle in comparison with projection of a projectile with compressed air.
US07886573B2
This application is directed to a shock sensor mounted in an electronic device. The shock sensor includes both active and passive shock detection methods that allow a technician to determine whether the electronic device was subjected to a shock event that exceeded an impact threshold level. The shock sensor may include shock detection contacts that form an electrical circuit that remains open in the absence of a shock event that exceeds an impact threshold level. In response to a significant shock event, a movable component or substance of the shock sensor may move from a first position to a second position, thereby closing the electrical circuit formed by the shock detection contacts. The change in circuit may be detected and used to provide active indication of whether the electronic device has been subjected to a substantial shock event. In addition, the shock sensor may be observed to passively determine whether the electronic device has been subjected to a substantial shock event.
US07886564B2
A system, method and software arrangement are provided for generating press-formed parts having a more consistent quality based on improved determination of processing conditions. For example, an apparatus can be configured to compare actual performance values of material properties provided by a material property database with standard values, and to adjust forming conditions such as a forming speed and a blank -holder pressure in accordance with the compared result. A control arrangement can be provided to control a press-forming device using the adjusted forming conditions. Accordingly, it may be possible to reduce occurrences of defects such as cracks and wrinkles when press-forming materials, and to obtain products having consistent quality and substantially identical shapes.
US07886553B2
A method and a control unit for controlling a power level being drawn from a power source (26). Based on a determined rate of change of a measured voltage (1) an estimated remaining runtime is calculated. The estimated remaining runtime represents a time where specific run criteria will no longer be fulfilled if the present power level is maintained. The estimated remaining runtime is compared to a threshold value, and in case the estimated remaining runtime is shorter than the threshold value, the power drawn from the power source (26) is decreased. Thereby the runtime for the power source (26) is maximised. This is particularly useful if the power source is a limited power source, such as a battery (26), e.g. for running a compressor (27) for a movable refrigeration system (24). The invention is suitable for automotive applications.
US07886552B2
A control methodology for dynamically adjusting the switching limits of a cycled refrigerant compressor in an air conditioning system with the objective of achieving an optimal or specified tradeoff between compressor cycling frequency and discharge air temperature variation under all operating conditions. In a first embodiment, the compressor cycling limits are controlled to maintain a virtually constant discharge air temperature variation for all operating conditions. In a second embodiment, the compressor cycling limits are controlled so that the discharge air temperature variation changes in relation to the discharge air temperature to provide a virtually constant human comfort level for the occupants. And in a third embodiment, the compressor cycling limits are controlled so that the discharge air temperature variation changes in relation to the ambient or outside air temperature to provide a virtually constant human comfort level for the occupants.
US07886548B1
A portable cooling system for use in conjunction with child carriages incorporating a reservoir of ice and a water pump that directs chilled water through a dehumidifying radiator located in an air handler assembly is herein disclosed. The water continues to circulate through two (2) cooling radiators and returns to the ice and water reservoir by gravity. An electric fan blows air through the radiators where it is dehumidified by the first radiator and cooled by the next two (2) radiators. The air then continues through the air handler wherefrom it is directed toward the child through a flexible duct. A rechargeable battery system is used to power the operation of both the pump and the fan through separate switches. Such an arrangement allows the user to run just the fan for ventilation if cooling is not needed. The cooling system is carried upon the rear of a baby carriage in a stable manner.
US07886545B2
A method for assembling a gas turbine combustor system is provided. The method includes providing a combustion liner including a center axis, an outer wall, a first end, and a second end. The outer wall is orientated substantially parallel to the center axis. The method also includes coupling a transition piece to the liner second end. The transition piece includes an outer wall. The method further includes coupling a plurality of lean-direct injectors along at least one of the liner outer wall and the transition piece outer wall such that the injectors are spaced axially apart along the wall.
US07886541B2
A combustor wall element arrangement for a gas turbine engine comprises an upstream wall element (50A) overlapping a downstream wall element (50B) and defining a gap (37) and an outlet (35) therebetween. In use, a coolant flow exits the outlet (35) to provide a coolant film (D) across at least a part of the downstream wall element (50B). The outlet (35) has a smaller dimension, normal to the downstream wall element (50B), than the gap (37) thereby increasing the velocity of the coolant flow across at the downstream wall element (50B). The resultant film coolant flow is effective further across the downstream wall element.
US07886529B2
An exhaust system may include a canister that is disposed downstream from an engine. A particulate filter (PF) is disposed within the canister and filters particulates within an exhaust from the engine. A reducing catalyst is disposed within the canister, is on the PF, and promotes reaction of a liquid reductant in the exhaust after reception by the PF. A heating element is disposed within the canister and heats particulate matter in the PF.
US07886528B2
In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method for treating exhaust from an engine. The method may comprise generating a first signal indicative of an engine load and generating a second signal indicative of a pollutant level. The method may further comprise recirculating exhaust based on the first signal and injecting a reductant based on the first signal and the second signal.
US07886522B2
A combined diesel gas-turbine system for optimizing operation and combustion processes of a diesel engine includes a catalytic sub-system, a turbo-generator sub-system and a hybrid sub-system. The catalytic sub-system is in communication with an exhaust port of the diesel engine and is operative for combusting and reducing all pollutants from diesel exhaust. The catalytic sub-system is a three-way catalytic converter and a first catalytic converter in series with a second catalytic converter. The turbo-generator sub-system is operative for the reclamation of secondary energy from the catalytic sub-system and includes a turbine in communication with the second catalytic converter for receiving a source of cleaned exhaust gas to drive the turbine. The hybrid sub-system is operative for the management of energy within the system. The system may incorporate a waste heat recovery system and convert it to mechanical power. The system may include a steam generator for the recovery of waste heat from the post turbo-charger exhaust. The combined diesel gas-turbine system is capable of reducing all diesel engine pollutants to near-zero levels and increase thermal efficiency.
US07886518B2
An inner core cowl baffle assembly for a turbofan engine assembly is provided. The engine assembly includes a core gas turbine engine, a core cowl which circumscribes the core gas turbine engine, a nacelle positioned radially outward from the core cowl, and a fan nozzle duct defined between the core cowl and the nacelle. The inner core cowl baffle assembly includes an inner core cowl baffle, and an actuator assembly configured to vary the throat area of the fan nozzle duct by selectively repositioning the inner core cowl baffle with respect to the core cowl.
US07886516B2
An engine that operates and produces the entire required vehicle thrust below Mach 4 is useful for a Hypersonic combined cycle vehicle by saving vehicle and engine development costs. One such engine is a combined cycle engine having both a booster and a dual mode ramjet (DMRJ). The booster and the DMRJ are integrated to provide effective thrust from Mach 0 to in excess of Mach 4. As the booster accelerates the vehicle from Mach 0 to in excess of Mach 4, from Mach 0 to about Mach 2 incoming air delivered to the DMRJ is accelerated by primary ejector thrusters that may receive oxidizer from either on-board oxidizer tanks or from turbine compressor discharge air. As the TBCC further accelerates the vehicle from about Mach 0 to in excess of Mach 4 exhaust from the turbine and exhaust from the DMRJ are combined in a common nozzle disposed downstream of a combustor portion of said DMRJ functioning as an aerodynamic choke.
US07886514B2
A sewing thread comprising a first yarn that is a filament yarn made or a fire resistant polymer and a second yarn that is a synthetic and/or natural yarn. The sewing thread may also contain a third yarn that is a synthetic and/or natural yarn. The first, second, and third yarns each have a first twist in the same direction. The first, second, and third yarns are then combined to form the sewing thread using a second twist which is in the opposite direction of the first twist. No bonding agent is used in the sewable, fire resistant thread.
US07886510B2
A stalk roll to be mounted upon a stalk roll drive shaft of a corn harvesting header in one embodiment comprises a cylindrical shell, at least four flutes affixed to and extending radially from the cylindrical shell, wherein the flutes are arranged in a first group and a second group, wherein the first group and the second group contain an equal number of said flutes, and wherein a peripheral distance between the first group and the second group is greater than a peripheral distance between the flutes within either the first group or the second group.
US07886509B2
A power-driven grass mower includes an operation division having a grass cutter; a motor division having an electric motor and a power-source division having a battery, wherein the operation division is provided with a first means for watching if the motor division is locked for some reason or other, and a second means for putting the motor division into the inching operation in response to any signal from the first means indicating that the motor division is in a locking condition.
US07886507B2
One method embodiment herein inputs a package size and a package wrap pattern. The method calculates a sheet size corresponding to the package size, and prints the sheet of package wrap. The sheet of package wrap has the package wrap pattern and can have fold markings corresponding to corners of the package. The sheet of package wrap has dimensions equal to the sheet size.
US07886506B2
A method of dispensing pills includes (a) inputting a request and (b) loading a cassette having a first pill type into position then (c) positioning a target container beneath that cassette. (d) The cassette is energized to drop one pill. (f) If a pill dropped and there are still more of the current pill to drop, the method continues at step d. (g) If a pill dropped and the number of the current pill has satisfied the request, the method ends. (h) If a pill dropped and a number of the current pill already dispensed type has not satisfied the request, the method continues with step d. (i) If no pill dropped, an operator is informed. (k) If the operator indicates the cassette is empty and another cassette has a same pill, the other cassette is moved to the target location and the method continues from step d.
US07886503B2
A machine for closing and sealing cardboard boxes or other packaging cases with random sizes of cases presented. An input gate controls passage of cases onto at least one conveyor that moves the cases through the machine. An input positioning stage centers and squares the case. A measuring station performs a primary measurement of the width and height of the open case. A closing station and tape sealing station are adjusted to the primary case size measurement. The case closing station then closes the case. The side major flaps are closed using a major flap closer with crossed arms pivoted at separated pivot axes. The sealing station has a secondary or closed case measurement detector which more accurately adjusts the tape applicator height. Lateral support heads engage the sides of the case to prevent distortion while tape is applied.
US07886500B2
An improved refrigerator door is provided with a metal outer panel and upper and lower plastic end caps installed on top and bottom edges of the door. The caps include grooves to receive flanges on the edges of the panel, thereby mounting the caps to the panel. The caps include ratcheting members to provide a mating fit with the panel. A bushing is snap fit into the upper cap without the use of hardware fasteners. Electric wires and a water line extend downwardly through the bushing to an ice and water dispenser in the door.
US07886495B2
The present invention relates to a fastening means (1) of ceramics for fastening a refractory lining, wherein the fastening means (1) comprises a hollow shaft (2) which can be inserted into a recess left open in the lining and has a positive locking element (10) provided at its free end (9) as well as a collar (3) projecting beyond the shaft (2) at its other end which can be applied at the outside of the lining. For improving this known fastening means with respect to a secure protection of the metallic fastening part from the atmosphere in the combustion chamber, the present invention suggests to provide an undercut opening towards the hollow shaft in the region of the other end. The refractory lining furthermore provided by the present invention comprises at least one refractory plate with at least one recess in which a metallic retaining element projecting from a furnace housing is received, a ceramic fastening means (1) connected to the retaining element which comprises a hollow shaft (2) projecting into the recess, the free end (9) of which is connected to the metallic retaining element, and a collar (3) provided at the other end which adjoins the lining as well as a ceramic plug received in the hollow shaft, and it is characterized in that the plug comprises a swelling received in an undercut (15) left open at the fastening means (1).
US07886493B2
A stop member for an operator chain in a chain operator, wherein the operator chain has a width, rivet holes and rivets, constitutes a pin arranged in a rivet hole not occupied by a rivet in the operator chain, wherein the pin has a length exceeding the width of the operator chain. The pin can be cylindrical with a diameter corresponding essentially to that of the rivet hole, and the diameter of the pin can be slightly smaller than that of the rivet hole, so as to be loosely held in the rivet hole.
US07886492B2
A pole system comprises a shaft that includes tracks for mounting luminaires, street signs, bicycle racks, decorative signage, banners, traffic signals, pedestrian signals, or other items. In one embodiment, a pole system includes a shaft with two or more vertical tracks. Each track may have a dovetail shape and may be configured to receive mounting nuts for mounting items to the shaft. One or more vertical raceways separate from a center opening of the shaft may also be present.
US07886491B1
An interlocking curtain wall insulation system for a building having a backer bar spaced from a floor slab defining a perimeter void between the floor slab and an outer wall, a safing insulation disposed above the backer bar and compression fit within the perimeter void between the floor slab and the backer bar, a first curtain wall insulation extending from an upper surface of the safing insulation adjacent the backer bar, a second curtain wall insulation depending from the backer bar.
US07886484B1
A plant pot has a container and a ring cover. The container has a top, a sidewall and multiple fixing posts. The sidewall has an annular collar. Each fixing post protrudes out from the collar. The ring cover is mounted over the collar of the sidewall of the container and has an inner edge, an outer edge and multiple fixing barrels. The inner edge and the outer edge are attached to the sidewall of the container. Each fixing barrel is formed on and protrudes out from the inner surface of the ring cover and has a corresponding fixing post. Engagement of the fixing posts to the fixing barrels prevents the ring cover from being rotated relative to and detached from the container.
US07886481B2
An insect trap (100) having a transparent or translucent entrapment chamber (110) with a closed upper end, an entry cone (130) disposed therein, a base (140) removably attachable to the entrapment chamber, and a lower container (180) for holding a liquid attractant removably attachable to the base (140), such that evaporating attractant from the container enters the entrapment chamber. The base includes a plurality of entry apertures (150) adapted to permit target insects to enter the trap. A support such as a slotted cone (160) is disposed in the entrapment chamber, and supports a vial (170) of solid attractant. The liquid and solid attractants are able to mix in the trap, and gradually escape through the entry apertures, to generate a plume to attract the target insects toward the entrance apertures.
US07886480B2
An improved crustacean, fish & animal trap comprising a collapsible hoop and mesh structure to minimize storage size. The invention is unique in that it collapses through the manipulation of flexible hoops to a size minimized in all three dimensions. The primary configurations would be for crab, prawns and lobster/crayfish; however, in slightly different configurations, can be used to catch or cage animals, fish and other crustaceans. Another embodiment of the trap would feature only one hoop and would be used as a “lift trap.”
US07886478B1
A fishing device for the disabled comprising a base component, a power component, and a fishing rod component, with the fishing device having a functionality controllable by an individual with disabilities.
US07886474B2
A rest for cleaning a rifle and for sighting a scope, a stock, and a bore of the rifle. The rest includes a base, a vise assembly, a fore-end support assembly, and an elevator assembly. The vise assembly adjusts for different-length rifles and clamps the stock of the rifle therein. The fore-end support assembly adjusts for the different-length rifles and supports the fore-end of the rifle thereon. The elevator assembly adjusts for the different-length rifles and supports the barrel of the rifle therein. The rest further includes a lapping tool, alignment tools, a stock alignment tool, a bore sighting tool, a centering tool, and a set of diopters. The lapping tool insures smoothness and proper interior profile of the mounting rings for a scope. The alignment tools insures that the scope fits properly without any binding or protrusions. The stock alignment tool lines up the stock of the gun so the gun is leveled. The bore sighting calibrates the scope. The centering tool cradles, centers, and supports the gun. A respective diopter is attached to an objective end of the scope to increase depth of field when a target is so close that the scope does not focus clearly.
US07886473B2
The invention relates to a stock (2; 3) of a repeating rifle with a connection region (21; 22) for connecting the stock (2; 3) to a system casing (1), with the connection region (21; 22) containing curved end connection surfaces (24; 34) for contacting correspondingly curved contact surfaces (9; 10) of the system casing (1) and the connection region (21; 22) having a recess (23; 33) tapering inward on the bottom side and a lower contact surface (28; 38) for contacting an upper support surface (16; 20) of the system casing (1). The invention further relates to a system casing for such a stock and a repeating rifle with such a system casing and stock.
US07886468B1
The present invention comprises plastic pistols and individual parts therefore having an increased use of plastic in comparison to prior art plastic pistols, reducing the number and simplifying the design of the metal parts to reduce the cost of the pistols while still maintaining gun quality. One aspect of the invention is the use of plastic in certain critical areas, simplifying the configuration of the metal inserts used. In many cases, this can eliminate expensive machining of metal parts in favor of parts injection molded to finished dimensions. In that regard, legal requirements can still be met with respect to metal content, yet that metal content may be simplified in configuration for ease of manufacture. Certain preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.
US07886466B2
Method and apparatus provide for attaching a planar electroluminescent lamp unit (140a-140g) to the side (138) of a train (100), and providing a film (120) adhered to the surface of the lamp unit (140a-140g) and to the side of the train adjacent the lamp unit, wherein the film has printed thereon advertising indicia (130a-130d). The lamp unit is connected to a source of power on the train.
US07886465B2
A presentation display for use in a science fair, school project or the like comprises a center panel, a left tray, and a right tray wherein the left tray is attached to the center panel with a flexible hinge and the right tray is attached to the center panel with a flexible hinge. The presentation display is made from a single piece of corrugated cardboard. Multiple presentation displays may be stacked.
US07886461B2
A midsole structure of a sole assembly for a shoe improves a ride feeling and stability of the midfoot portion of the sole assembly during running. The sole assembly 1 of the shoe includes an upper plate 3 disposed on an upper side of a midfoot portion M and formed of a hard elastic member, a lower plate 4 disposed under the upper plate 3, wherein the lower plate is formed of a hard elastic member and has a downwardly convexedly curved shape that forms a void S relative to the upper plate, a midfoot outsole 6 attached on a bottom surface 4a of the lower plate 4, having a ground contact surface 6a, and provided discretely in the longitudinal direction from an outsole 5 of a heel portion H and an outsole 7 of a forefoot portion F of the sole assembly 1, and connections 8, 9 provided on front and rear ends of the midfoot portion M and interconnecting the upper plate 3 with the lower plate 4 in the vertical direction.
US07886460B2
A shoe having a toe region, a middle region, a heel region, and a multi-layer, multi-density midsole; the midsole being comprised of at least a shank and a lower layer; the bottom surface of the shank having at least one longitudinal concavity and at least one longitudinal convexity, the longitudinal concavity typically occupying a substantial portion of the heel region and the longitudinal convexity typically occupying a portion of the middle region. Collectively, these elements contribute to making the shoe appropriate for both walking and higher impact activities such as running, and simulating the effect, and imparting the fitness benefits, of use on a sandy beach or on a giving or uneven surface regardless of the actual hardness of the surface.
US07886455B1
An angle jig for positioning a work article accurately on a machining bed of a milling machine may include a block having a linear array of apertures positioned along a top surface of the block and located parallel to a first longitudinal edge of the block. The block may further include a plurality of curvilinear arrays of apertures positioned along the top surface thereof and located adjacent to a second longitudinal edge of the block. A plurality of dowel pins may be removably interfitted within selected ones of the linear array of apertures as well as selected ones of the curvilinear arrays of apertures. The linear array of apertures may further be used as a guide and cooperates with the curvilinear arrays of apertures to define an angle between 1° and 45° along the top surface of the block.
US07886446B2
A pair of pipe cutting pincers includes a pincers body having a first handle and a second handle pivotally assembled together. The first handle has its front end pivotally combined with a pipe-cutting member disposed with a cutting blade and its rear end bent toward a second receiving groove to form a pivotally driven member. An elastic member positioned between the first and the second handle has one end hooked on the first handle and the other end hooked with the rear end of the pivotally driven member for pulling the pipe-cutting member to carry out reciprocating shifting. A pivotal actuating member is rotatably assembled in the second handle to resist against the lower end of the pivotally driven member. In using, the pivotally driven member is actuated by the elastic member to move and make the pivotal actuating member rotate and drive a cutting edge to cut off a pipe.
US07886444B2
A foldable knife comprises a blade having an end pivotally connected to an end of a handle, and a spring having two ends connected to the handle and blade respectively, so that the spring can apply a torque to the blade to rotate the blade out of the handle. A blocking element is provided at an inner portion of the handle. A switch element pivotally connected to the inner portion of the handle has a first end extended out of the handle. When the blade is completely received in the handle, a second end of the switch element bears against the blade. When the user pushes the first end of the switch element, a positioning portion formed on the blocking element is disengaged from an engaging portion formed on the blade, so that the torque of the spring drives the blade to spring out of the handle.
US07886424B2
A method of manufacturing a transformer is provided. The method includes forming a disc-wound coil by forming a first conductor layer, a second conductor layer and a layer of cooling ducts between the first and second conductor layers. The first and second conductor layers each have a plurality of disc windings arranged in an axial direction of the disc-wound coil. Each of the disc windings includes a conductor wound into a plurality of concentric turns.
US07886422B1
A method is provided for reclaiming a suspension from a disk drive head gimbal assembly (HGA). An ultrasonic probe is applied to the HGA's read/write head slider on a side opposite that of its solder balls. Ultrasonic oscillations are transmitted through the ceramic slider to the side with the solder balls. The oscillations break the brittle intermetallic compound of the slider balls and free the slider. The ultrasonic energy also weakens the epoxy adhesive between the slider and suspension. The method can be used with heat to further weaken the solder balls and adhesive.
US07886418B2
The apparatus comprises a vehicle in which a blind cutting machine is installed. A supply of blinds in different sizes, styles, fabrics and finishes is also maintained in the vehicle. The vehicle travels to the customer premise. Once the blind is selected by the customer, the installer measures the architectural feature to be covered to determine the final dimensions of the blind. The installer then cuts the selected blind to the desired size using the cutting machine. After the blind is cut to the proper size, it is mounted on the architectural feature. The selection, measurement, sizing and installation of the blind are accomplished during a single visit to the customer premise.
US07886413B2
A method is provided for stabilizing a tampon. The method includes providing a pledget having a moisture content and including one or more metallic cation salts, compressing the pledget to produce a tampon, and applying microwave radiation to the tampon for a time sufficient to stabilize the tampon. The time to stabilize a tampon can be reduced by at least about 20% compared to the time to stabilize a tampon lacking one or more metallic cation salts.
US07886412B2
A pouch has an elongate closure mechanism adapted to provide vacuum retention within an interior of the pouch over an extended period of time when sealed. The closure mechanism includes a first pair of interlocking members that resealably mate together, a second pair of interlocking members that resealably mate together, and a pair of sealing members that form an air tight seal separate from the interlocking members disposed between the first and second pairs of interlocking members. The closure members are connected with opposing panels of the pouch in a manner designed to provide differential opening and closing forces. The pouch may include a check valve and air evacuation channels to aid in evacuating air from the interior.
US07886409B2
A vertically opening vehicle door hinge has a base member secured to a chassis at bolt slots disposed as elongated openings on the base member. A primary swivel member is swivel mounted to the base member so that the primary swivel member swivels on the plane defined by the base member. The primary swivel member has a primary swivel axis normal to the point defined by the base member. The arm is swivel mounted to the primary swivel member at a secondary swivel. The secondary swivel has an secondary swivel axis of rotation normal to the primary swivel axis. A motor actuates the primary swivel member. The arm has an extended position corresponding to an open vehicle door and a retracted position corresponding to a closed vehicle door.
US07886406B2
A hinge device includes a coupler having two substantially C-shaped outer clamp members which are interconnected back-to-back at a juncture and which respectively have open mouths opposite to the juncture, and two substantially cylindrical inner clamp members fitted rotatably and respectively in the outer clamp members. Each inner clamp member has a substantially cylindrical outer surface, and two clamping arms defining an axially extending clamping groove therebetween. The clamping groove has a groove opening alignable with the open mouth of one of the outer clamp members. A hoop assembly having two hoops interconnected hingedly by the hinge device is also disclosed.
US07886405B2
Spheric joint or spherical hinge (30; 130) for coupling together two members that are spatially orientable relative to each other, in which a head (84; 184) of the first member (80; 180) is retained in an accommodation (46; 146) of the second member (40; 140) by at least four points of contact located on a spherical surface according to the vertices of a pyramid containing the centre thereof, about which said head (84; 184) is adapted to rotate without translating. The hinge is characterized in that said accommodation (46; 146) or said head (84; 184) has a projecting boss (52; 152) confined in a gap (85; 186) of said head (84; 184) or said accommodation (46; 146), said gap (85; 186) having at least two consecutive distinct spaces (85a, 85b; 187, 188) that define a travelling path (85; 186) for said boss (52; 152).
US07886403B2
A runner 5 including a striker 51 in a lower portion; a catcher 6 corresponding to the striker 51 and engaging a movable body 1 in a reference position R; and an urging device 7 storing an urging force when the catcher 6 is in the reference position R, are provided. The catcher 6 in the reference position R captures the striker 51 of the runner 5 stopped and engaged with a rail 2 in a self-propelling start position SA of the movable body 1, and upon this capture, an engagement between the catcher 6 and the movable body 1 is released. At the same time, due to a backward movement of the movable body 1 from the stop position SA, the catcher 6 is positioned in the reference position R again, and releases the striker 51 of the runner 5. An engagement between the runner 5 and the rail 2 is subsequently released.
US07886401B2
A device is proposed which is used to detachably connect a wiper blade (12) to clean windows, particularly of motor vehicles, to a driven wiper arm (10) featuring a wiper blade holder (50 or 150), whereby the wiper blade (12) that can be placed on the window (20) with a long-stretched-out, rubber elastic wiper strip (18) features a band-like, long-stretched-out elastic supporting element (16) that is curved in the longitudinal direction over its band surfaces (15, 17) on whose lower, concave band surface (17) the wiper strip (18) is arranged parallel to the longitudinal axis. On the outer convex band surface (15) of the supporting element (16) sits a connecting element (26), which features two parallel wall surfaces (36) mat are aligned in a vertical plane on the band surface and extend in the longitudinal direction of the wiper blade and that a pivot pin (42) projects from each wall surface, whereby the longitudinal axes of the two pivot pins are aligned with one another. An especially simple embodiment of the articulated connection with an integrated connecting device is achieved if an adapter (66 or 166) that can move in a pendulum fashion is positioned on the two pivot pins of the connecting element (26), and said adapter features means to connect to the wiper blade holder (50 or 150) of the wiper arm (10).
US07886396B2
A cleaning tool 210 designed to be used with at least one cleaning implement/replaceable dusting sleeve/cleaning mitt or cleaning pad 11 is disclosed. The cleaning tool 210 includes a telescoping support 209 comprised of a plurality of telescopingly received shafts or sections (212, 213, 214, 215). The shafts 212, 213, 214 and 215 may be freely extended into a locked fully extended position 201 and released via depression of a first engaging projection 239. A primary support head 216 and secondary support head 218 are pivotally mounted to the forward mount 240 on a single gear 274 and releasbly locked together.
US07886393B2
A vibrating toothbrush is provided with vibration-isolating zones that substantially isolate vibrations in the head and reduce vibrations transmitted to the handle without sacrificing structural integrity around the vibration-isolation zones. Such zones may generally comprise neck material that is reduced in cross-section, thinned, replaced by dampening material, or removed altogether to create transmission-inhibiting voids. The vibration-isolating zones may be further supported by the housing of the vibratory element to maintain the structural integrity around the zones and to thereby alleviating weakness conditions that might subject the toothbrush to fatigue and breakage conditions.
US07886386B2
Air mattresses primarily intended for hospitals, long-term care facilities and in-home use are described. The mattress includes multiple foam layers and an air sector having multiple resilient foam filled air cylinders. The air cylinders at different locations are filled with foam having different density (firmness); some are filled with multiple layers of foam. Each air cylinder has an air inlet connected to the atmosphere by an inlet valve and an air outlet. The air outlets are either connected to one or more restricted internal check outlet valves in a non-powered air mattress, or connected to a pump via hose connectors in a powered air mattress. The restricted outflow of air from the cylinders in a non-powered air mattress allows the patient to slowly settle into the supportive foam layers for optimal interface pressure distribution. The air cylinders re-inflate when the patient adjusts position or is vacated from the surface.
US07886384B2
Provided is a sleep aid for use in reducing the risk of plagiocephaly including a cushion and a sleep position indicator. The cushion includes an elongate pad to accommodate a person in a reposed position such that the person extends along a longitudinal axis of the pad. The cushion also includes a casing surrounding the pad that has bottom and top panels. The sleep position indicator has an elongate dimension and is slideably supported by the cushion. A medial portion of the sleep position indicator is adapted to move transversely to the longitudinal axis within a slideway. The indicator may be moved between a first position where it visibly protrudes from a first side of the cushion to inform a first head orientation, and a second position where it visibly protrudes from a second side of the cushion to inform a second head orientation.
US07886380B2
A patient support including a frame, plurality of wheels coupled to the frame, a deck, and a scissor mechanism coupled to the frame and the deck to move the deck from a raised position to a lowered position. The support includes brake mechanism including a brake pad to contact the floor to prevent the patient support from rolling.
US07886377B2
A patient support apparatus includes a frame, a patient support coupled to the frame, a push handle coupled to the frame and having a handle post, and a user interface coupled to the handle post and having at least one user input. The user interface is rotatable about an axis defined by the handle post between a first position presenting the at least one user input to a caregiver standing at an end of the frame and a second position presenting the at least one user input to a caregiver standing alongside the frame.
US07886376B2
A shower cube with shaving buddy is used for sitting while in the shower and resting one's leg on the movable shaving buddy or the like, has a sturdy plastic frame with a rubber gripping base. This sturdy plastic frame has a vinyl cushion seat cover which is able to be lifted up to a 90 degree angle at the hinges in order to release the movable shaving buddy. When the cushion seat is up, a large bath supply storage space is accessible with a rubber coated wire base insert. The movable shaving buddy has a rounded vinyl cushion leg rest for easier shaving of ones legs. The shaving buddy also has 2 drawers with rubber coated wire drawer inserts used to store smaller bath and shower storage needs.
US07891016B2
Disclosed herein are an automatic landing method for a scanning probe microscope and an automatic landing apparatus using the same. The method comprises irradiating light to a cantilever using a light source; collecting interference fringes generated by the light being diffracted from the edge of the cantilever and then being incident to a surface of the sample; driving the tip in the sample direction until the pattern of the interference fringes reaches a predetermined pattern region (first driving); and driving the tip in the sample direction after the interference fringe pattern reached the predetermined pattern region (second driving). The method in accordance with the present invention is very effective particularly for samples having a large surface area, because it enables automatic landing of a tip according to recognition and selection of an optimal time point for individual landing steps, irrespective of adverse changes in landing conditions, such as surface irregularities of samples. Further, the present invention enables a very inexpensive and effective application of a scanning probe microscope (SPM), because it is possible to achieve rapid and reliable driving of a tip to within an approximate distance of a sample.
US07891009B2
A first time indication which can be changed by a user and stored in a first memory. Furthermore, in the case of a change in the first time indication which is performed externally to the checking device, the difference between the stored first time indication and the changed first time indication is determined. Furthermore, it is checked whether a predetermined criterion is met by using a trustworthy second time indication, the first time indication and the difference.
US07890995B2
The invention provides a system and method for that facilitating the remote management of one or more networks. In enabling the remote management of a network, embodiments of the invention provide limited access to service providers through a firewall, without the need to modify the configuration of the firewall. Advantageously, the cost of providing such access may be reduced compared to conventional approaches. In addition, such access may be limited to data inquiries or other commands, which can reduce the risk that the security of the network is compromised.
US07890994B2
A storage network system (1) includes a sever (100), a storage device (300), and a management server (400). A device control processor (120) of the server (100) includes an authentication ID management unit (130). The authentication ID management unit (130) has an authentication ID management table (131) which manages an authentication ID held at present. A port controller (310) of the storage device (300) includes an access control unit (320). The access control unit (320) is provided with an access control table (321) indicative of a criterion which permits an access from the server (100). An access management unit (410) of the management server (400) has an operation schedule table (420) indicative of an operation schedule of operations from the server (100) to the storage device (300), and an access management table (421) which manages an operation permitted at present.
US07890993B2
A Secret file access authorization system with fingerprint limitation includes an authorization module, encryption module and certification module in a server linked by programs. A user module of least one client machine contains a kernel encryption/decryption unit embedded in the client operation system kernel, so access authorization to secure files can be limited by environment or time fingerprint. Therein the authorization module provides an authorization secret key (ASK) and fingerprint template. The encryption module accepts the ASK and secret files to be encrypted, and provides a decryption secret key (DSK). The user module accepts the ASK and encrypted secret files, and presents a claim for the ASK certification to the certification module. The certification module accepts the DSK and the claim and the template, and provides the certified DSK for the user module, to start the kernel encryption/decryption unit in the user module, and achieve reading and writing of encrypted files.
US07890984B2
Method and system of video on demand (VOD) dating. The method and system permitting a user to select video personals for on demand view. The video personal include recordings of individual interviews or other activities which may be used to introduce the individual to the user and/or to otherwise facilitate dating.
US07890976B2
The present invention relates to a video display device, and more particularly, to a digital television and channel setting method thereof that enables a setting of preferred channels according to genre by selecting a channel label.
US07890967B2
An optical pickup device 50 comprising a laser diode 1, a photo detector 2, a housing 3 having an optical system for guiding light from the laser diode 1 to an optical disk and guiding light reflected on the optical disk to the photo detector, a wiring 5 to supply current to the laser diode 1, and a metallic cover 9 provided outside of the housing 3, wherein the laser diode 1 is bonded to the housing 3 by adhesive, a metallic member 10 is mounted on the surface of the laser diode 1 by connecting thermally, and the metallic member 10 is thermally connected to the cover 9 by solder.
US07890964B2
Methods and apparatuses provide contextual awareness to a groupware client with respect to an enterprise backend system. The groupware client generates a query or request for data within a context of the groupware client. A backend determines the context, which may include processing an indication of the context received with the query. Data is selectively chosen based on the context, and the selected data is provided to the groupware client to fulfill the request. In one embodiment, the backend determines a permission associated with the context.
US07890963B2
The present invention relates to computer-implemented method for generating one or more system calls from a command originating from a software process. The method comprises the steps of receiving the command from the software process; translating the command into a first set of system calls for execution by an operating system; intercepting said first set of system calls prior to execution by the operating system; and replacing said first set of system calls with a second set of system calls if said first set of system calls meets one or more predefined criteria. This interception and replacement may then be used to map one set of data references onto another set of data references. This mapping can provide flexible data storage, which is transparent to the software process and operating system.
US07890962B2
A backend enterprise server includes an application that sends metadata to a groupware client. The metadata enables an enterprise user to modify a function of the backend application from within the context of the groupware client. The groupware client sends metadata describing the modification back to the backend application where the modification is applied.
US07890961B2
Method and apparatus for providing desktop application functionality in a client/server architecture
A method and apparatus for providing functionalities of desktop applications using a client/server architecture is provided. Data including a user's preferences and a script are provided to a client system. The script is configured to define a function of a control. The function allows the control to perform an operation using the received data. The use of the received data and script permits a user to have a desired interface and environment regardless of the native functionalities of the client system.
US07890949B2
A driver software installing system is provided with a computer connected to an electronic device. The system includes an installation system that performs installation of driver software in the computer in accordance with a procedure of an operating system of the computer, and a setup system that performs setup of the driver software that is installed in the computer by the driver software installation system. Further, the setup system includes an instructing module that instructs the installation system to generate identification information for identifying the driver software when the installation of the driving software is performed, an identifying module that identifies the driver software to be set up based on the identification information generated by the installation system in response to the instruction of the instructing module, and a setup module that performs setup operation for the driver software that is identified by the identifying module.
US07890946B2
A facility for augmenting software in a target computer system is described. The facility receives and augmentation specification in the target computer system. The augmentations specification specifies: (a) a function to be augmented, (b) a parameter of the function to be tested, (c) a test to apply to the specified parameter, and (d) and modification to perform to the behavior of the function if the specified test is not satisfied by the specified parameter. When the specified function is invoked on the target computer system, if the specified tested is not satisfied by the specified parameter, the facility performs the specified modification to the behavior of the specified function.
US07890936B2
A method for reverse reading a computer program code to locate useful information includes receiving a selection of a line of the computer program code from a user, extracting one or more variables from the line of the computer program, searching the computer program code for one or more other lines of code that create and/or use the variables, and highlighting the other lines of code that create and/or use the variables.
US07890930B2
A system and method for an Eclipse feature to create program groups and shortcuts is provided. The system and method include registering a global install handler and creating a properties file. The system and method also include specifying and installing at least one feature associated with the registered global install handler. Installing the feature invokes the global install handler to creating at least one shortcut and/or at least one program group associated with the properties file.
US07890925B1
A structured INF source language that can coexist natively within higher level language source files is used to improve the consistency and quality of custom driver package components. A common source code file includes machine readable instructions in the structured inf source language for building various components of the custom driver packages for different target customer platforms. The number of errors introduced when changes are made for particular features, configuration, and customization keys is reduced by using a single source code file. The source code is parsed to automate the production of installation scripts, online internal documentation, and enabling per device, per platform, per operating system, and per customer control. An approval process with a security feature is used to ensure that the changes to the source code are authorized.
US07890918B2
A method of designing a semiconductor device includes: (A) dividing a layout region of a semiconductor chip into matrix by a unit region; and (B) determining an interconnection layout such that an occupation ratio of a high-density region to the layout region is less than 50%. Here, the high-density region is a set of the unit regions in each of which interconnection density is higher than a predetermined reference value.
US07890909B2
An automatic custom block composition tool for composing custom blocks of an integrated circuit (IC) design that may include non-standard library cells. The tool includes program instructions that are executable to create and use a placement control file that includes instructions for use by the custom block composition tool to place the one or more non-standard library cells into the custom block layout. In addition, the program instructions may instantiate a leafcell for each non-standard and each standard library cell included in a netlist. The program instructions may access the placement control file and place each leafcell in a row of the custom block layout according to the placement control file. The program instructions may also pre-route power, clock and critical network signals, and generate a router control file used during remaining routing of the custom block by a conventional router tool.
US07890907B2
A memory cell for interconnection with READ and WRITE word lines and READ and WRITE bit lines includes a logical storage element such as a flip-flop formed by a first inverter and a second inverter cross-coupled to the first inverter. The storage element has first and second terminals and a storage element supply voltage terminal configured for interconnection with a first supply voltage. A WRITE access device is configured to selectively interconnect the first terminal to the WRITE bit line under control of the WRITE word line, and a pair of series READ access devices are configured to ground the READ bit line when the READ word line is active and the second terminal is at a high logical level. A logical “one” can be written to the storage element when a second supply voltage, greater than the first supply voltage, is applied to the WRITE word line, substantially without the use of a complementary WRITE bit line.
US07890906B2
Disclosed is a method of laying out individual cells of an integrated circuit design, based at least in part on the known polysilicon perimeter densities of those cells. That is, the method embodiments use the knowledge of polysilicon perimeter density for known cells to drive placement of those cells on a chip (i.e., to drive floor-planning). The method embodiments can be used to achieve approximately uniform across-chip polysilicon perimeter density and, thereby to limit performance parameter variations between functional devices that are attributable to variations in polysilicon perimeter density. Alternatively, the method embodiments can be used to selectively control variations in the average polysilicon perimeter density of different regions of a chip and, thereby to selectively control certain performance parameter variations between functional devices located in those different regions.
US07890904B2
In one embodiment, a method for computing jitter in a clock tree includes dividing a clock tree into a plurality of stages and computing jitter in one or more of the stages according to a model of at least a portion of a circuit associated with the clock tree. The model includes a representation of each source of jitter in the circuit. The method also includes, to compute jitter associated with a path or a pair of paths in the clock tree, statistically combining the jitter in each of the stages of the path or the pair of paths in the clock tree with each other.In one embodiment, to efficiently compute jitter and to achieve zero clock skew, a method synthesizes a symmetrical clock tree of a circuit in which corresponding stages in all paths from a root of the clock tree to sinks of the clock tree exhibit approximate electrical equivalence to each other.
US07890897B2
The amount of analysis performed in determining the validity of a property of a digital circuit is measured concurrent with performance of the analysis, and provided as an output when a true/false answer cannot be provided e.g. when stopped due to resource constraints. In some embodiments, a measure of value N indicates that a given property that is being checked will not be violated within a distance N from an initial state from which the analysis started. Therefore, in such embodiments, a measure of value N indicates that the analysis has implicitly or explicitly covered every possible excursion of length N from the initial state, and formally proved that no counter-example is possible within this length N.
US07890872B2
A method and system for reviewing and recording approvals for a component requirements document (CRD). A document link to a CRD and a chart link to a condensed version of the CRD are inserted into a review database table. The CRD describes changes required for a software application component. Prior to a review meeting, reviewers activate the document link to display the CRD. During the review meeting, the reviewers activate the chart link to display the condensed version of the CRD for a review of the required changes. An annotation is inserted into the review database table in response to completing the review. The annotation indicates a readiness for an approval process in which the CRD is approved by approvers. A comment link to a sign off comment is inserted into a sign off database table. The sign off comment indicates an approval of the CRD.
US07890871B2
An on-line community/social network system and method for provide a novel technique that enables an on-line community system to obtain information necessary to provide additional and more robust features to its users, solely from the user's participation in the community, and without requiring the users to do anything else (i.e., to explicitly provide the needed information). From this core approach, a number of advantageous novel techniques are provided by the inventive system to greatly enhance the quality and usefulness of various features and services that can be offered to community users as well as to provide them with entirely new and unique features as a result of user-specific data generated by the system's novel infrastructure.
US07890864B2
The present invention is a method, system and apparatus for producing a composite help view for an aggregation of applications. The method can include obtaining at least two separate help documents. Each of the separate help documents can have an association with a corresponding one of separate interface units aggregated together into a single aggregated view. Importantly, the separate help documents can be combined into a composition of help documents corresponding to the single aggregated view. Subsequently, the composition of help documents can be rendered in a help system view responsive to a request for help initiated in the single aggregated view.
US07890862B2
An apparatus for entering data into a computing device includes a graphical user interface that presents hierarchically organized information in a menu structure of at least two hierarchy levels, including a topmost hierarchy level and at least one further hierarchy level. The apparatus also includes at least two haptic keys, each having more than one state of activation. Each of the haptic keys is assigned to a particular hierarchy level. A first haptic key is assigned to the topmost hierarchy level. A menu on the topmost hierarchy level is directly accessible using the first haptic key. A menu on a hierarchy level higher than one that is currently presented on the graphical user interface is directly accessible using a haptic key assigned to the menu on the higher level, when a hierarchy level of the currently presented menu is one of the at least one further hierarchy level.
US07890861B2
An information processing apparatus includes an operating unit, a display, an attaching unit to which an external storage medium is attachable and a controller. The controller sequentially stores operation information corresponding to an input operating instruction and display information corresponding to a content displayed on the display in inputting the operating instruction as one set of reproduction information in the external storage medium, reads one set of the stored reproduction information in an order in which the operating instruction is input, and determines whether a display information corresponding to a content displayed on the display in accordance with the reading of the one set of the reproduction information coincides with the display information included in the read reproduction information. The controller controls the apparatus in accordance with the operating instruction included in the read reproduction information when a result of the determination indicates coincidence.
US07890853B2
A markup language document (e.g. an XML document) may contain a first instance of a markup language element having an attribute with a first, platform-independent value, a second instance of the element having the attribute with a second, platform-specific value, and an indicator that the second value overrides the first. Executable code may replace both of the first and second instances with a single instance having the attribute with the second value. Alternatively the markup language document may contain a first instance of a markup language element having a first, platform-independent attribute, a second instance of the element having a second, platform-specific attribute different from the first attribute, and an indicator that the second instance extends the first. In this case executable code may replace both instances of the markup language element with a single instance having the first attribute and the second attribute.
US07890850B1
Prominence data resulting from user interaction with a hyperlink on a page may be stored in one or more repositories. Prominence data may be collected automatically when the user views a page or clicks on a hyperlink without requiring separate action from the user to accomplish storage or retrieval. The prominence data may further include a display parameter that denotes a level of prominence that is usable to affect the display of a hyperlink. A prominence score used to determine the display parameter may be calculated by dividing a count of click-throughs by a count of page views of the page containing the hyperlink. Other score calculations may be used. User feedback may be incorporated into the score calculation and may be collected through a toolbar, popup window, or other feedback-collecting mechanism.
US07890848B2
Differential dynamic content delivery including providing a session document for a presentation, wherein the session document includes a session grammar and a session structured document; receiving a presentation control instruction to present a classified structural element of the session document, wherein the classified structural element comprises one or more versions of presentation content; determining whether at least one version of presentation content of the classified structural element exists for a user; identifying alternative display content for the user if no version of presentation content of the classified structural element exists for the user; and presenting the identified alternative display content to the user.
US07890838B2
According to one embodiment, a storage apparatus includes a first nonvolatile storage module, a second nonvolatile storage module, and an error checking and correction module. The first nonvolatile storage module undergoes a destructive read when data is read from it. The second nonvolatile storage module stores the address data representing the storage location in the first nonvolatile storage module at which data to be read is stored. The error checking and correction module checks for and corrects an error in the data stored at the storage location in the first nonvolatile storage module which is represented by the address data stored. The error checking and correction module writes the corrected data back into the first nonvolatile storage module.
US07890829B2
This disclosure describes a reduced pin bus that can be used on integrated circuits or embedded cores within integrated circuits. The bus may be used for serial access to circuits where the availability of pins on ICs or terminals on cores is limited. The bus may be used for a variety of serial communication operations such as, but not limited to, serial communication related test, emulation, debug, and/or trace operations of an IC or core design. Other aspects of the disclosure include the use of reduced pin buses for emulation, debug, and trace operations and for functional operations. In a fifth aspect of the present disclosure, an interface select circuit, FIGS. 41-49, provides for selectively using either the 5 signal interface of FIG. 41 or the 3 signal interface of FIG. 8.
US07890828B2
Built-in self-test using embedded memory and processor in an application specific integrated circuit
A test method for an ASIC uses an embedded processor in the ASIC to execute test routines from an embedded memory or an external memory. During ASIC production, the test routines can comprehensively test of the blocks of the ASIC without a complicated test pattern from test equipment. The test routines can also perform power-up tests in systems or end products containing the ASIC. Test selection, activation, and result output can be implement using a few terminals of the ASIC.
US07890814B2
Described herein is technology for, among other things, accessing error report information. It involves various techniques and tools for analyzing and interrelating failure data contained in error reports and thereby facilitating developers to more easily and quickly solve programming bugs. Numerous parameters may also be specified for selecting and searching error reports. Several reliability metrics are provided to better track software reliability situations. The reliability metrics facilitate the tracking of the overall situation of failures that happen in the real word by providing metrics based on error reports (e.g., failure occurrence trends, failure distributions across different languages).
US07890809B2
A high level Operational Support System (OSS) framework provides the infrastructure and analytical system to enable all applications and systems to be managed dynamically at runtime regardless of platform or programming technology. Applications are automatically discovered and managed. Java applications have the additional advantage of auto-inspection (through reflection) to determine their manageability. Resources belonging to application instances are associated and managed with that application instance. This provides operators the ability to not only manage an application, but its distributed components as well. They are presented as belonging to a single application instance node that can be monitored, analyzed, and managed. The OSS framework provides the platform-independent infrastructure that heterogeneous applications require to be monitored, controlled, analyzed and managed at runtime. New and legacy applications written in C++ or Java are viewed and manipulated identically with zero coupling between the applications themselves and the tools that scrutinize them.
US07890798B1
A computer cluster includes a first computer for running a first instance of an application and a second computer for running a backup instance of the application. The first node provides for creating a snapshot in volatile RAM of a state associated with the application while it is running. Initially, the snapshot can be created in the form of pointers to RAM used by the application so that the snapshot overlaps application data, but sections of the snapshot can be moved in RAM when the application needs to modify a section of its memory. The snapshot can then be transferred to a shared disk. In the event of a failure of the first node, the backup instance can begin processing from the state represented by the snapshot rather than from initial conditions.
US07890794B1
A method is used in handling SAS topology problems. It is detected that a chain of SAS expanders has a bad expander that prevents communicating normal SAS data streams along the chain. Expanders are disabled in the chain, and are enabled in turn while updating a flag indicating the most recently enabled good expander, until the chain fails. Expanders are disabled in the chain, and are enabled in turn but the enabling stops after enabling the expander indicated by the flag.
US07890792B2
There is disclosed a high speed switching method for a disk image delivery system fail-over. A management server sends a disk image of an active server in advance to a standby server. When receiving a report that the active server has failed, the management server judges whether or not it is possible for the standby server to perform the service of the failed active server based on service provision management server information held by the management server and if possible, instructs the standby server to perform the service of the active server. Even if the disk image delivered in advance is different from the disk image of the failed active server, switching of is the service to the standby server can be performed more quickly through resetting the setting values of unique information and installing the additional pieces of software on the standby server by the management server than redelivering an appropriate disk image.
US07890791B2
Even if failure probabilities are different for hard disks due to the individual specificity such as a hard disk manufacturer, model number or the like, a disk with high failure probability is reliably determined and removed from the operating RAID to be kept in a standby state as a hot spare disk, thereby keeping a low failure probability of the disk array device. In order to realize this, the disk array device includes a disk controlling unit for, based on S.M.A.R.T. information of each of the hard disks read by a S.M.A.R.T. information reading unit, assigning a predetermined number of hard disks to the hot spare disk in descending order of failure probability of the hard disks.
US07890788B2
For synchronizing a master device and a slave device connected by a data transfer link, the master device measures a phase offset in a signal received from the slave device with respect to the master's clock signal. The master determines a control symbol based on the phase offset. The master encodes the control symbol in a transmit signal for the slave. The slave decodes the control symbol from the signal received from the master. The slave uses the control symbol to adjust the phase shift to compensate for the phase offset of a signal to be transmitted to the master device. When the phase compensated signal is received at the master, its phase offset is smaller than the original phase offset. This procedure can be performed iteratively until the phase offset is within a desired tolerance.
US07890785B2
An apparatus for generating a power-up signal of a semiconductor memory apparatus includes a first power-up signal generator that generates a first power-up signal to be activated on the basis of a comparison between a power supply voltage level supplied to the semiconductor memory apparatus and a first set voltage level, and a second power-up signal generator that generates a second power-up signal to be activated with a predetermined delay time on the basis of a comparison between the power supply voltage level and a second set voltage level.
US07890778B2
In some embodiments of the invention, a graphical user interface in an electronic device with a touch screen display and power switch includes one or more user-interface objects to assist a user in powering-off the device while avoiding unintended power-off events due to inadvertent contact with the power switch or the touch screen display.
US07890777B2
A system and method for collecting power management parameters in a computing device for power over Ethernet (PoE). Computing devices such as portable computers can include a collection component that is responsible for gathering power management information from various parts of the computing device. The collected power management information can then be sent to a LAN on motherboard device for use in a PoE allocation scheme.
US07890774B2
A system, method, computer program product, and data management service that allows any comparison operation to be applied on encrypted data, without first decrypting the operands. The encryption scheme of the invention allows equality and range queries as well as the aggregation operations of MAX, MIN, and COUNT. The GROUPBY and ORDERBY operations can also be directly applied. Query results produced using the invention are sound and complete, the invention is robust against cryptanalysis, and its security strictly relies on the choice of a private key. Order-preserving encryption allows standard database indexes to be built over encrypted tables. The invention can easily be integrated with existing systems.
US07890765B2
Methods, apparatus and systems for generating a trusted digital time stamp as well as a public time source. It includes, an apparatus for receiving and recording public time information and a method for verifying a digital time stamp. A method for generating a trusted digital time stamp includes: obtaining a first time information and a corresponding random code from a public time source; and generating a digital time stamp using a first time information and random code. A method for verifying a digital time stamp includes: recording time information and corresponding random codes transmitted by a public time source; retrieving time information and a random code contained in the time stamp; and comparing a retrieved random code from the time stamp with one of the recorded random codes that corresponds to a time information in the time stamp, if they are consistent, the time stamp is determined to be trusted, otherwise the time stamp is determined to be not trusted.
